KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
14-Feb-2026
Dinesh Patnaik, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, stated in a February 14 interview that if credible evidence links members of the Indian establishment to the crime, New Delhi will cooperate with Canada and take appropriate action; referring to the trial of four Indian nationals accused of murdering pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, he cautioned that the outcome remains uncertain. “We have nothing to worry about on this account. We want to work with the Canadians to bring the perpetrators to justice. And if we find there are elements within our own establishment involved, and there is evidence to prove the link, then we will take action,” he said.
13-Feb-2026
According to Toronto CityNews, escalating extortion threats are forcing some families in Peel Region to leave Canada, as police struggle to address cases that span provincial and international borders. An Indian-origin resident, Dharmjit, who said he was targeted by an extortion gang in October 2025, claimed that police lack adequate resources to tackle such crimes. He reported receiving repeated extortion calls despite blocking the numbers and informing authorities. On November 25, shots were fired at his farm. Dharmjit said police advised the family to stay away from the property; however, when they later returned, the gunfire resumed.
08-Feb-2026
India and Canada on February 8 agreed to establish security and law enforcement liaison officers to facilitate the sharing of information on transnational criminal networks and the illegal flow of drugs, including fentanyl precursors. The agreement was reached during National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval’s two-day visit to Ottawa, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on security and law enforcement issues.
08-Feb-2026
According to reports, Peel Regional Police (PRP) Sergeant Harinder Sohi, a Canadian police officer who participated in a pro-Khalistan protest organized by the secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) outside a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in November 2024, has been temporarily demoted as a disciplinary measure. He is, however, expected to be reinstated to full rank and pay after completing the penalty period. The decision has raised concerns within the Hindu community, particularly as the protest had turned violent. During the incident, some demonstrators forcibly entered the temple premises. Among those subsequently charged was Inderjit Singh Gosal, SFJ’s coordinator for the so-called Khalistan Referendum.
05-Feb-2026
York Regional Police in Canada on February 5 announced a major operation targeting organized crime in the Greater Toronto Area, stating that seven serving police officers and one former officer have been charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the murder of an Ontario corrections officer. Investigators said the accused officers illegally accessed, collected, and shared personal and confidential information with organized crime figures, which was then used to facilitate the conspiracy.
05-Feb-2026
Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief Asif Rashid, while addressing reporters ahead of a community engagement town hall in the Martindale neighbourhood on February 5, said that police and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) are investigating 21 extortion-related cases in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, of which 11 have escalated into shootings or other violent incidents. He said members of the South Asian community are being specifically targeted.
04-Feb-2026
Punjab-origin Alberta’s Minister for Indigenous Relations, Rajan Sawhney on February 4 said that the Canadian government is aware of the escalation in gangster-related activities and that the federal administration is working to address the issue. Sawhney emphasized that South Asian students in Canada are largely law-abiding, adding that reports of chaos and unlawful incidents represent only a small fraction compared to the overall community.
01-Feb-2026
Three persons of Punjab origin, Harjot Singh, Taranveer Singh and Dayajeet Singh Billing have been charged by the Surrey Police in British Columbia, in connection with an extortion-related shooting incident in the Crescent Beach neighborhood, in Canada on February 1. The accused were arrested shortly after police received reports of gunshots and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street at around 3:50 am. Police said officers from the specialized Project Assurance unit were already patrolling the area due to a spike in extortion-related violence. The suspects were later located near 28 Avenue and 140 Street after allegedly abandoning a vehicle, fleeing on foot, and subsequently entering a rideshare vehicle.
30-Jan-2026
According to Indian media reports, Canadian leaders have condemned Alberta separatists for meetings with officials linked to United States (US) President Donald Trump, highlighting an irony given Canada’s long-standing tolerance of Sikh Khalistani separatists. Meetings between Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) representatives and Trump officials prompted the Canadian prime minister to reiterate Canada’s sovereignty, while the British Columbia premier termed the outreach “treason.” The developments have fueled claims that Trump or his proxies are encouraging resource-rich Alberta to break away from Canada—an irony noted in India, where Canada’s stance on separatism has long drawn criticism.
28-Jan-2026
Surrey, British Columbia (BC), Mayor Brenda Locke said Ottawa will deploy 20 additional Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers to combat a surge in extortion cases involving gunfire at homes and businesses. The announcement follows British Columbia Premier David Eby’s decision to convene an inter-provincial meeting in Surrey, bringing together police leadership from B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, along with the head of the RCMP’s national extortion task force. Eby said Prime Minister Mark Carney has agreed to provide additional federal resources to strengthen RCMP anti-gang and extortion operations in British Columbia.
26-Jan-2026
Police on January 26 arrested two Indian nationals of Punjabi origin, Harshdeep Singh and Hanspreet Singh, for their alleged involvement in a shooting in Surrey, from a vehicle near 129 Street and 84 Avenue in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. A loaded handgun was recovered from the vehicle, and both were charged with multiple firearms-related offences, including possessing a prohibited firearm in a vehicle and dangerous driving. They remain in custody. Police said the action was part of Project Assurance, under which the Surrey Police Service (SPS) conducts proactive patrols in neighborhoods and business areas targeted by extortion and related shootings. Surrey recorded 132 extortion attempts in 2025, including 49 involving gunfire, beyond the 35 suspected extortion cases. Most incidents in British Columbia have targeted members of the South Asian community, with several prominent Punjabi-origin businessmen killed in recent months.
26-Jan-2026
In a major action against rising extortion threats, the Surrey City Council in Canada on January 26 declared a local state of emergency in response to a surge in extortion-related threats and violence affecting the community. Reports said Punjabi-origin gangsters are allegedly involved in a significant number of extortion cases targeting South Asian businesses. The move marks the first time an elected municipal council in Canada has declared a state of emergency to address criminal activity. Mayor Brenda Locke spearheaded the motion, which was unanimously approved, citing that the scale and frequency of the crimes have overwhelmed local resources and traditional policing mechanisms.
22-Jan-2026
A 28-year-old Indian-origin man, Dilraj Singh Gill, was shot dead in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, on the afternoon of January 22. Police said a nearby vehicle fire was linked to the shooting. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) stated that Gill was known to police and that the killing appears to be connected to the British Columbia gang conflict.
21-Jan-2026
In a press note issued on January 21, Canada’s British Columbia Extortion Task Force said it is investigating the involvement of 111 foreign nationals—several suspected to be Punjabis—in a series of extortion cases targeting communities in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia. Investigators are analysing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and have stated that refugee or asylum status will not shield suspects from legal action. Four months after its launch on September 17, 2025, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in British Columbia said the task force has taken over 32 cases from multiple jurisdictions and is examining physical, digital, and forensic evidence to dismantle extortion networks, while supporting local police across the province. The task force is working with national policing partners and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to address immigration violations. As of January 20, 2026, nine individuals had been removed from Canada.
18-Jan-2026
Veteran Canadian journalist Terry Milewski, in an interview with ANI, described Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi as “enormously clever” and “quite ruthless,” saying he may be among the few leaders capable of handling both the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case and a potential trade pact with Canada despite diplomatic tensions. He said the Nijjar issue has become a major obstacle in bilateral ties, though most Canadians are unfamiliar with the slain Khalistani leader, and argued the controversy was amplified by a small but influential pro-Khalistan group in Canada. Milewski also said he does not believe Canadian law enforcement is corrupt or acting under political pressure, stressing that the matter is now before the courts and will be decided through due legal process.
14-Jan-2026
A shooting targeting Indian-origin businesses, Bhojan Sweets and Restaurant, was reported on January 14 in the 8000 block of King George Boulevard in Surrey, Canada. According to CTV News, bullet holes were found in the restaurant’s windows. Surrey police Sergeant Tige Pollock said no one was inside the premises and no injuries were reported. The incidents come amid a surge in extortion-related violence in Surrey, British Columbia. In 2025 alone, the city recorded 132 extortion attempts, 49 of which involved shootings.
14-Jan-2026
A classified Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) report cited by Global News claims that jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is running extortion, drug trafficking, and contract killings from prison in India. The report alleges his gang is expanding violent activities in Canada and is “acting on behalf of the Indian government” to target Sikh separatists and other perceived threats.
14-Jan-2026
In an interview with CBC News on January 14, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh K. Patnaik dismissed Canada’s longstanding allegations linking New Delhi to the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar stating that the case involves four individuals and not the Indian government. He also noted that the Air India bombing investigation has yet to secure a single conviction, despite India raising concerns about terrorism in Canada for over 40 years.
13-Jan-2026
According to CBC and the Vancouver Sun, a prominent Punjabi-origin businessman, identified as Baljinder “Binder” Singh Garcha was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia, on January 13. Police found his body around noon near the 3500 block of 176 Street, close to the Morgan Creek Meadows outdoor wedding venue he operated. Garcha owned several Surrey-based businesses, including a banquet hall, limo service, and a film company. Authorities have indicated they are not currently linking the killing to the ongoing gang war, despite two recent gang-linked deaths in Surrey and Abbotsford, report said.
12-Jan-2026
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for another shooting at a residence in Brampton, Canada, through a social media post on January 13. In the post, gang member Goldy Dhillon stated that the January 12, 2026, shooting targeted the residence of Jasvir Dhesi, alleging that the victim supported rival groups, and issued a warning against those opposing the gang.