U.S. charges Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar for Nijjar’s killing in Canada in 2023
The U.S. has charged Indian gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar for ordering the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023. This action is part of 'Operation Hardball,' a coordinated international effort by law enforcement agencies from the U.S., Canada, and Europe, leading to 24 arrests connected to three India-based transnational organized crime groups. The killing of Nijjar had previously strained bilateral relations between India and Canada, with Canada's then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linking the Indian government to the murder, a claim India rejected. The current charges highlight international cooperation against racketeering, targeted killings, and narcotics trafficking by these syndicates, whose impact is felt globally, especially in the Indian diaspora.
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