Global Crime Indictment
U.S. Indicts 37 in Transnational Crime Network Linked to Nijjar Killing
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Key Points
1
Nijjar was shot dead outside a temple (gurdwara) in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023, in an assassination allegedly ordered by Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar as part of the global syndicate.
2
Operation Hard Ball involved three India-based crime networks with operatives across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, resulting in about 24 arrests and 37 defendants named.
3
From inside Sabarmati Central Jail, Bishnoi allegedly ran the syndicate via contraband cellphones and other devices, directing extortion, violence and other crimes from prison.
4
The indictments describe assembling 'pattern-of-life' intelligence on targets, including details about victims’ families, to pressure them during extortion attempts.
5
British Columbia authorities arrested local associates described as muscle and intermediaries tied to the gang, with three Canadians named in international warrants.
U.S. prosecutors have charged Indian gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar with ordering the 2023 assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, according to India's News. The charges came as part of Operation Hard Ball, which named 37 defendants and led to about 24 arrests across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey on June 18, 2023. His killing had already strained Canada-India relations. Now, U.S. indictments put two of India's most wanted gangsters at the center of the plot, ETV Bharat reported.
Bishnoi Ran a Global Crime Empire From Prison
Lawrence Bishnoi sits inside Sabarmati Central Jail in India. Yet prosecutors say he ran a sprawling criminal network from his cell. He allegedly used smuggled cellphones and other contraband devices to direct extortion, violence, and killings across multiple countries, according to Energetic City.
His U.S.-based ally Goldy Brar is accused of serving as the North American lead. Brar allegedly coordinated the hit on Nijjar and handled payments to those who carried it out. Together, the two men are described as running three India-based crime networks with operatives in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Europe, and Australia, Head Topics Canada reported.
Nijjar Hit Was Part of a Broader Pattern of Violence
Prosecutors say the Nijjar killing was not an isolated act. It was part of a pattern. The syndicate allegedly targeted political and diaspora figures — people who spoke out or stood in the gang's way. Investigators found that associates built detailed "pattern-of-life" profiles on their targets, India's News reported.
Those profiles included personal information about victims' families. Prosecutors say the gang used that information to pressure targets during extortion attempts. The level of surveillance described in the indictments points to a sophisticated, well-funded operation, not a street-level gang.
Three Canadians Arrested, No Link Found to Indian Government
Three men in British Columbia were arrested as part of Operation Hard Ball, Head Topics Canada reported. Authorities described them as local muscle and intermediaries. Three Canadians were also named in international arrest warrants. The arrests mark a major step in a case that had long frustrated Canadian investigators.
Canadian and U.S. officials were clear on one point: there is no evidence tying Indian government officials to the crimes in these indictments. That is a notable distinction. Canada previously accused Indian agents of involvement in Nijjar's killing — a claim India denied — and the two countries expelled diplomats over the dispute, according to Energetic City.
Student Visas and Minor Recruits Used to Build the Network
The indictments reveal some troubling recruitment tactics. Prosecutors allege the syndicate used student visas to move young operatives into North America. In some cases, the gang allegedly recruited minors to carry out tasks for the network, according to India Weekly.
Authorities say the operation spanned borders with ease. Operatives worked across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. The scale of Operation Hard Ball — 37 defendants, 24 arrests, three countries involved in simultaneous action — signals that law enforcement sees this as a long-term threat, not a one-time crackdown, ETV Bharat reported.
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