KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
04-Oct-2025
A movie theatre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, suspended screenings of Indian films after two targeted attacks by unidentified assailants within a week—an attempted arson on September 25 and a shooting on October 2, 2025. In the first incident, masked attackers tried to ignite the entrance using flammable liquid; in the second, they fired shots to intimidate. Halton Regional Police stated that both incidents are being investigated as targeted attacks, reportedly linked to pro-Khalistani calls for a nationwide ban on ‘Made in India’ films in Canada.
03-Oct-2025
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on October 3 warned that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, recently designated as a terrorist entity, poses a “significant threat to the safety and security of Canadians.” The RCMP stated that the terrorist designation will strengthen efforts to disrupt the gang’s operations and reaffirmed its commitment to investigating all terrorism-related activities, regardless of the group or individuals involved.
02-Oct-2025
On October 2, a suspected pro-Khalistani assailant, dressed in black and wearing a face mask, fired multiple shots at the entrance doors of a movie theatre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The theatre’s CEO, Jeff Knoll, linked the attacks to the screening of South Asian films. The Halton Regional Police stated that they were investigating this incident, along with the September 25 attack, as targeted acts.
29-Sep-2025
The Government of Canada on September 29 formally designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under its Criminal Code, citing the group’s violent activities, intimidation tactics, and threats to diaspora communities. Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree announced the decision, emphasizing that the designation would provide law enforcement with ‘powerful and effective tools’ to curb the gang’s activities. He further stated, “The Bishnoi gang is not just a criminal network but a terrorist organization that thrives on fear and violence. This designation makes it clear that Canada will not tolerate their crimes.” With the inclusion of the Bishnoi gang, a total of 88 entities are now listed as terrorist organizations under Canadian law. The Bishnoi gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi, who hails from Punjab and is currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat, India, faces numerous charges, including murder, extortion, and involvement in high-profile assassinations, most notably that of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Following the designation, all property, vehicles, and financial assets linked to the Bishnoi gang in Canada can now be frozen or seized. It also becomes a criminal offence for any individual in Canada, or Canadians abroad, to knowingly provide funds, services, or resources to the gang.
29-Sep-2025
Unidentified assailants opened fire on Punjabi-Hindi radio station ‘Swift 1200 AM’ in Surrey, British Columbia, late on September 29, in what police suspect is the latest act of intimidation linked to Canada’s spiraling extortion crisis targeting South Asian businesses. No one was inside at the time, and staff discovered bullet holes in the main exterior door the next morning on September 30. Surrey Police Service (SPS) confirmed it was a targeted drive-by attack and transferred the case to British Columbia’s newly formed Provincial Extortion Task Force. The station’s recent shows had focused on extortion threats against Indian-owned businesses and Ottawa’s decision to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.
26-Sep-2025
A Canadian court on September 26 sentenced Indo-Canadian, Abjeet Kingra, allegedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, to six years in prison for firing and arson at the residence of musician AP Dhillon in British Columbia on the night of September 1, 2024. The court also imposed a lifetime firearms ban and a DNA order on him. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the judge noted that Kingra acted under the Bishnoi gang’s direction to carry out targeted criminal acts in Canada. According to the officials, the investigation continues as the second suspect, Vikram Sharma, remains at large and is believed to have fled the country after the attack.
25-Sep-2025
On September 25, two masked assailants dressed in black, suspected to be pro-Khalistan elements, attempted to set fire to the entrance of a movie theatre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, using a flammable liquid from red gas cans. The fire was contained outside, causing moderate damage.
25-Sep-2025
Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Adviser Nathalie Drouin on September 25 stated that India has committed to cooperate and share information with Canadian police investigations. Drouin, who met her Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in New Delhi on September 18, described the discussions as ‘very productive’ and confirmed that Canada and India have re-established certain channels of communication to address their respective concerns. However, she declined to comment on the Nijjar investigation, while noting that India seeks assurances from Canada regarding its support for a single, unified Indian state.
25-Sep-2025
Khalistani separatist Inderjeet Singh Gosal, coordinator of the secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Canada, was released on bail from the Lindsay Correctional Centre in Ontario on September 25. Shortly after his release, Gosal posted a video recorded just outside the prison gates in which he warned India's National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and declared that ‘New Delhi will soon become Khalistan.’ In the video he said: “India, I'm out — to support Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and to organise the Khalistan referendum on November 23, 2025. Delhi banega Khalistan… Ajit Doval, why don't you come to Canada, America or any European country and try to arrest or do any extradition. Doval, I am waiting for you.”
25-Sep-2025
Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Adviser Nathalie Drouin stated on September 25 that New Delhi and Ottawa have found a ‘way’ to address mutual concerns, as both countries agreed to work together to open a fresh chapter with a particular focus on tackling terrorism and transnational crime. Drouin noted that India expects Canada to be unequivocal in its commitment to the ‘One India’ principle and the respect for the integrity of Indian territory. In turn, she emphasized that Canada’s priority is ensuring safer streets at home. ‘We have a common understanding and a common goal here,’ Drouin said.
22-Sep-2025
According to government sources, Canadian authorities have arrested Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a close aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on multiple firearms-related charges in Ottawa, Canada. Gosal, who rose as a key SFJ coordinator in Canada after the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, was held for illegal possession of firearms, though police have not specified the number or type of weapons seized. The arrest comes just days after Indian and Canadian National Security Advisers (NSAs) met in New Delhi on September 18, signalling possible cooperation on terrorism concerns.
22-Sep-2025
Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree’s office on September 22 confirmed that the federal government is seriously considering designating the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist organisation. Minister’s spokesperson Simon Lafortune said that the decision is based on evidence, intelligence, and recommendations from security agencies, adding that the evaluation process is rigorous and ongoing to ensure Canadians’ safety.
21-Sep-2025
Indo-Canadian community groups have cautiously welcomed a Canadian government bill to combat hate crimes against identity-based groups, including those based on religion. The legislation proposes criminalising intimidation or obstruction at places of worship, schools, and community centres, making hate-motivated crimes a specific offence, and banning the public display of certain terrorism or hate symbols. The bill will also introduce a ‘hate propaganda’ offence, making it a crime to wilfully promote hatred against an identifiable group by publicly displaying certain terrorism or hate symbols, including those linked to government-listed terrorist entities. Two pro-Khalistan groups on the list are Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).
19-Sep-2025
According to Canadian authorities, three Khalistani terrorists, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's close aide Inderjeet Singh Gosal and his two associates Arman Singh and Jagdeep Singh, were arrested in Oshawa over firearms-related charges on September 19. On September 22, the three were produced before the Ontario Court of Justice in Oshawa and charged with multiple offences, including careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and carrying a concealed weapon.
19-Sep-2025
According to reports, the trial of four Indian nationals accused in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is unlikely to begin before late 2026, with the pretrial process expected to continue for several months. The four accused remain in custody under a detention order. Trial dates are yet to be set, but pretrial applications will begin in January 2026 and continue until August 2026, said Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the British Columbia Prosecution Service.
19-Sep-2025
According to sources, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are actively considering designating the dreaded Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organisation in Canada. The move is being pursued in close coordination with Indian agencies, particularly the Gujarat Police. Bishnoi, one of India’s most feared gangsters, has been lodged in Ahmedabad Central Jail for nearly three years over an offshore drug trafficking case.
18-Sep-2025
India urged Canadian authorities to enhance security for its diplomats and consular premises after the Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) threatened to “siege” the Vancouver consulate, Canada, on September 18. Senior Indian officials said the issue was strongly raised with Global Affairs Canada, which directs local agencies on diplomatic security under the Vienna Conventions.
18-Sep-2025
The Khalistani separatist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on September 18 staged a day-long protest outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, Canada to mark two years since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim of Indian involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun described the demonstration as both “remembrance” and “resistance.”
17-Sep-2025
The banned Khalistani group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on September 17, issued a public notice threatening a 12-hour “siege” of the Indian consulate in Vancouver, Canada starting 8 am on September 18. The notice warned Indo-Canadians against visiting the consulate, accused Indian missions of running “spy networks” against Khalistan referendum activists, and cited former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations of Indian agents’ involvement in Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. SFJ also released a poster targeting India’s High Commissioner-designate Dinesh Patnaik, branding him the “new face of India’s Hindutva terror in Canada.”
15-Sep-2025
According to report, rising extortion cases have prompted the City of Surrey, Canada, to announce a USD 250,000 reward for information leading to convictions, one of the largest rewards in Canadian policing history. The Surrey Police Service is currently investigating 44 extortion cases, including 27 involving shootings. Mayor Brenda Locke called the extortionists “thugs and criminals” who threaten the city’s way of life and instill fear in residents. Police have linked the crimes to the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has targeted South Asian communities across Canada, prompting British Columbia Premier David Eby and others to demand that the group be designated a terrorist organization.
14-Sep-2025
According to a Hindustan Times report, Canadian federal courts in 2025 dismissed appeals by at least 30 individuals challenging removal orders or asylum claim refusals over their alleged support for the Khalistan movement. Court records showed many applicants cited their links to Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) or possession of a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ voter ID as grounds for fearing persecution in India. Canadian courts dismissed 30 asylum appeals linked to Khalistan support over insufficient evidence of persecution risks in 2025, while only four applicants succeeded.
11-Sep-2025
Inderjeet Singh Gosal, Sikhs For Justice’s Canada coordinator, on September 11, said he has received warnings from police of an imminent threat to his life but declined entry into witness protection, in Canada. Gosal, who took over SFJ’s Canada role after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination in June 2023, said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alerted him on September 10 and formally offered protection. He alleged that Indian government agents are continuously targeting him.
09-Sep-2025
According to a recent Khalsa Vox report, a surge in pro-Khalistan imagery and rhetoric in Ontario has raised concerns over public safety and Canada’s diplomatic obligations. Videos circulated online showed a trucker glorifying Dilawar Singh, the suicide bomber who assassinated Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, while posters displayed at a Khalsa Nagar Kirtan parade organised by the Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) carried violent imagery targeting India’s High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik. The report cautioned that such actions risk normalising political violence, breaching the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and tarnishing Canada’s international reputation.
08-Sep-2025
On September 8, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced a news conference to provide an update on fugitive Rabih alias Robby Alkhalil, who escaped from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, on July 21, 2022, while facing murder charges. Alkhalil, who already has murder convictions in Toronto and Vancouver, is listed on Interpol’s Red Notice and Canada’s “most wanted” list under the Be On the Lookout (BOLO) Program, which has offered a reward of up to CAD 50,000 for information leading to his arrest.
06-Sep-2025
According to a new Canadian government report titled ‘2025 Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks in Canada,’ Khalistani extremist groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) have been receiving financial support originating from Canada. The report stated that these groups, along with Hamas and Hezbollah, use networks including non-profit organisations to solicit donations from diaspora communities for raising and transferring funds. It further highlighted the growing use of cryptocurrencies, hawala networks, and informal value transfer systems as persistent financing risks.