US Charges Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar With Ordering Hardeep Singh Nijjar's 2023 Killing in Canada

The United States has formally charged jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associate Satinderjeet Singh, better known as Goldy Brar, with allegedly ordering the 2023 assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The charges were unsealed by a federal court in Los Angeles as part of a wider crackdown on transnational organised crime.

The indictment alleges that Bishnoi, despite being lodged in an Indian prison, directed the operation through smuggled mobile phones, while Goldy Brar coordinated the gang's activities in North America. Investigators claim the accused shared Nijjar's photograph and multiple addresses with those tasked with carrying out the attack.

The 2023 Assassination

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a prominent advocate of the Khalistan movement, was shot dead outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. His killing triggered a major diplomatic dispute between Canada and India after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the assassination. India rejected those allegations as baseless.

No Allegation Against the Indian Government in US Indictment

The latest US indictment focuses on Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar and does not accuse the Government of India or any Indian official of involvement in Nijjar's killing. The charges are directed at the alleged actions of members of an organised criminal network.

The development comes as Canadian authorities have also indicated that their current evidence relates to the Bishnoi gang. According to recent statements by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), investigators have not presented evidence linking the Indian government to the charges announced by US authorities.

Part of a Wider Crackdown

The indictment is part of a broader joint investigation by US and Canadian law enforcement agencies targeting international criminal syndicates allegedly involved in murder-for-hire, extortion, drug trafficking, and other organised crimes. Authorities announced charges against dozens of individuals connected to multiple India-linked criminal networks operating across North America and beyond.

Lawrence Bishnoi is already imprisoned in India in connection with several criminal cases, while Goldy Brar remains a wanted fugitive. The US has indicated that it will continue working with international partners to dismantle transnational organised crime networks and pursue those accused of carrying out cross-border violent crimes.

Diplomatic Significance

The charges mark a significant development in one of the most closely watched international investigations in recent years. They could influence ongoing legal proceedings and further shape diplomatic engagement between India, Canada, and the United States.

While the criminal case moves forward in US courts, authorities in all three countries are expected to continue cooperating on the broader investigation into organised crime networks operating across international borders.