KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
12-Aug-2025
According to sources, Canada’s Conservative Party has urged Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney’s government to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organisation, citing rising shootings and extortion threats against the South Asian community in British Columbia (BC), Alberta, and Ontario. Conservative public safety critic Frank Caputo said the gang’s activities meet the criminal code definition of terrorism, allowing authorities to seize assets and impose harsher penalties. The demand follows two recent shooting incidents at Bollywood actor Kapil Sharma’s café in Surrey, allegedly claimed by the Bishnoi gang.
11-Aug-2025
On August 11, Canada’s Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, in a post on social media platform X, urged Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organisation, alleging that the Liberal government’s immigration policies had enabled its members to enter Canada and spread violence.
09-Aug-2025
Harry Boxer, a member of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s group, claimed responsibility in an audio clip shared on August 9 for the recent firing outside Kapil Sharma’s café, Kap’s Café, in Surrey, Canada, and threatened to shoot any producer, director, or actor working with Salman Khan. Boxer, linked to Bishnoi’s United States (US) operations, issued the warning amid the gang’s long-standing hostility toward Khan over the 1998 blackbuck hunting case.
09-Aug-2025
The first consular camp organised by an Indian mission in Canada in 2025 was held on August 9 without disruption, despite a protest call by pro-Khalistan elements, at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara in Abbotsford, British Columbia. A court order kept protesters 50 metres away, preventing the disturbances and violence seen at similar camps in 2024.
07-Aug-2025
On August 7, Kap’s Café, owned by Indian comedian Kapil Sharma, was targeted in a second shooting incident within a month in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Surrey Police confirmed that the attack occurred around 4:40 a.m., with at least six bullet holes found at the café. Gurpreet Singh alias Goldy Dhillon, along with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility via a social media post. A purported video of the attack, which surfaced on social media, captured at least 25 gunshots.
05-Aug-2025
On August 5, it was discovered that the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in collaboration with the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Temple, had set up an ‘Embassy of Khalistan’ on the gurdwara premises in Surrey, Canada. The so-called embassy, marked with a board reading “Republic of Khalistan,” was established in a building reportedly constructed with funding from the Government of British Columbia, which had also recently allocated CAD 150,000 for the installation of an elevator in the same structure. This development comes amid renewed concerns over Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs), following the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s (CSIS) June 2025 disclosure that such actors continue to use Canadian soil to promote, fundraise, and plan violence primarily targeting India.
05-Aug-2025
India’s High Commission in Ottawa, on August 5, responded to signage promoting the so-called "Republic of Khalistan Embassy" at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, which featured images of Khalistani militants and terrorists Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The High Commission stated that Canadian soil must not be allowed to be used for anti-India activities that threaten the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The National Alliance of Indo-Canadians (NAIC) also expressed concern over the development, stating that it “condemns such reckless acts by fringe elements that hurt Indo-Canadians.”
05-Aug-2025
On August 5, Radio India station head Maninder Gill wrote to both British Columbia (BC) Premier David Eby and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, demanding action over the display of signage declaring an “Embassy of Khalistan” at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada. Gill noted that the building housing the signage was constructed with CAD 150,000 in provincial grants and argued that public funds should not be used to promote separatist extremism. He urged authorities to hold the gurdwara committee accountable, stressing that a registered Canadian charity should not act against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an allied nation like India.
27-Jul-2025
Former High Commissioner to Ottawa, Ajay Bisaria, who recently participated in two closed-door roundtables in Ottawa and Toronto, stated that the Indian side has come away with the impression that Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney’s government will not allow the Canada-India relationship to be dictated by the pro-Khalistan lobby. Bisaria noted that the new government appears committed to rising above diaspora politics and prioritising Canada’s national interest. The roundtables, attended by senior officials from both countries, come amid a diplomatic reset following Carney’s invitation to Indian PM Narendra Modi for the G7 summit and plans to reinstate High Commissioners in both capitals.
26-Jul-2025
The Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) recently issued a two-page statement denying any involvement in the recent shooting at Kapil Sharma's Kap's Café in Surrey, Canada, and distanced itself from Khalistani-linked gangster Harjeet Singh Laddi. The group asserted that such violent acts are “against our principles” and warned that the misuse of BKI’s name for extortion or threats is part of a conspiracy to defame the organisation. Reaffirming its ideological grounding in Sikh teachings, BKI appealed to the public to report individuals falsely invoking its name.
17-Jul-2025
On July 17, a National Post report revealed that Canada’s refugee system is being exploited through fabricated pro-Khalistan claims, exemplified by the case of Parwinder Singh, who fled India in 2019 after being accused of murder. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uncovered over 200 identical asylum claims linked to immigration consultant Deepak Pawar. Singh, whose initial claim of police persecution was rejected, later adopted the Khalistan narrative as a fallback. Although ultimately dismissed by the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD), the case underscores how Khalistani activism is being misused as a “magic key” to secure refugee status.
14-Jul-2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the province’s Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, on July 14 urged the federal government to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organisation, citing its involvement in violence, extortion, drug trafficking, and targeted killings across Canada. The appeal follows a similar request made by British Columbia (BC) Premier David Eby in June 2025.
11-Jul-2025
Harjit Singh Laddi, an operative of the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has claimed responsibility for the recent gunfire attack on Kapil Sharma's newly opened café in Surrey, Canada. Laddi, one of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) most wanted terrorists, is accused of multiple violent attacks in Punjab, including the assassination of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar. The NIA has announced a reward of INR 10 lakh for information leading to his arrest. BKI, a designated terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), maintains active operations in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom.
11-Jul-2025
Harjit Singh Laddi, a Khalistani terrorist affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), who claimed responsibility for the July 9 firing at Kapil Sharma’s café in Surrey, Canada, stated in a statement that the attack was in retaliation for allegedly offensive remarks made about Nihang Sikhs on Sharma’s comedy show. Laddi claimed that a character wearing Nihang attire was mocked on the show, which was perceived as disrespectful to the community’s religious identity. He further alleged that multiple attempts to contact Sharma’s team demanding an apology went unanswered.
10-Jul-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on July 10 accused comedian Kapil Sharma of supporting Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Hindutva ideology while investing in Canada. In a video message released a day after the firing incident at Sharma’s café in Surrey, Canada, Pannun declared that such “Hindutva investors” were not welcome and warned that Canada would not allow the “violent Hindutva ideology” to take root under the guise of business.
03-Jul-2025
According to top intelligence sources, Moninder Singh Boyal, a prominent Sikh leader and chief spokesperson for the Sikh Federation (Canada) and the British Columbia (BC) Sikh Council, was recorded openly endorsing political assassinations and glorifying violent resistance during a recent speech in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. His rhetoric reportedly aligned closely with the ideology of designated terror groups such as the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
03-Jul-2025
According to top intelligence sources, Canadian intelligence agencies have linked the June 2025 killing of Bilal Hameed in Surrey, Canada, to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), viewing it as part of a broader strategy to control criminal networks and eliminate compromised operatives. Investigations have established Hameed’s ties to Rahat Rao and Tarik Kiani, both of whom have long been under surveillance for suspected ISI connections. The use of military-style tactics and a torched getaway vehicle mirrors previous ISI-linked assassinations in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK). Officials believe the killing signals an internal turf war among ISI-backed syndicates operating within South Asian diaspora hubs in Canada.
02-Jul-2025
According to sources, Canada is set to introduce legislation aimed at curbing protests outside sensitive public spaces such as schools, places of worship, and community centres, amid rising concerns over Khalistani extremism. The move comes in the wake of a violent pro-Khalistan protest at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, which disrupted an Indian consular event and raised alarms among temple authorities and law enforcement agencies. Justice Minister Sean Fraser stated that the proposed law seeks to balance freedom of expression with the protection of religious freedoms, saying, “People need to know that in Canada they are free to pray… but not to the point where you threaten the protected Charter rights of a religious minority.” Supporters of the proposal, including organisations like the Canada-India Foundation (CIF) and the Tafsik Organization, argue that such legislation is essential to safeguard vulnerable communities from intimidation and radicalisation.
26-Jun-2025
Canada’s spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), in its latest annual report to Parliament, warned that a small but militant faction of Khalistani extremists continues to pose a national security threat. The report raised concerns over the use of Canadian soil to promote, fundraise, and plan violence in India. This marks the first direct reference to the issue since 2018, signalling a potential policy shift as Canada seeks to repair strained ties with India. New Delhi has consistently flagged Khalistani networks in Canada as a major concern.
25-Jun-2025
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, in a statement published on the Surrey city government’s website on June 25, urged the Canadian federal government to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and similar groups targeting South Asian Canadians as terrorist organisations under Canadian law. Citing a surge in shootings, extortion attempts, and gang-related killings, Locke characterised these actions as “economic terrorism” rather than ordinary crime. She emphasized that such a designation would empower law enforcement with enhanced tools to dismantle these networks and better safeguard local communities.