The Bishnoi gang, a student-based crime group from India, has been exploiting Canada's student visa program to expand its criminal operations. This exclusive report reveals how the gang's top lieutenant, Goldy Brar, entered Canada in 2017 on a student visa, seemingly to attend university, but instead helped the gang establish a presence in the country. The classified intelligence report obtained by Global News highlights the gang's reliance on Indian youths with student visas, who are used to instigate high-profile murders, political assassinations, and extortion crises. The report, titled 'The Bishnoi Gang: An Emerging Threat in Canada', was circulated to help immigration officers tackle the crime group. It cites the gang's 'growing operational presence in Canada' and 'demonstrated use of Canada's immigration programs for criminal purposes'. The report also notes a significant increase in the number of Indian citizens charged with extortion, mirroring a similar trend in serious and organized crime charges within the Indian student permit holder demographic. Between 2019 and 2023, 4,000 Indian citizens on study permits were charged with 17,929 offences, with a third of these charges related to serious or organized crime. In 2024, over 13,040 criminal charges were laid against Indian citizens on study visas, a significant jump from previous years. The report further emphasizes the potential underreporting of crimes, as many go undetected and unreported. The gang's use of student visas to enter Canada and recruit members has been a key factor in their expansion. Goldy Brar, the gang's most senior member in Canada, used his student visa to run the North American operation. He even tried to cement his immigration status by making a refugee claim in 2019, which was deemed abandoned. The gang's activities have raised concerns about the potential overlap between organized crime and state-linked actors, with allegations of Indian diplomats sharing information with the gang. The Bishnoi gang's primary money-making scheme involves spreading fear among South Asian Canadians to extort money from them. The gang has been linked to several high-profile murders, including the killing of a youth leader in India and Punjabi music star Sidhu Moose Wala, who returned to India after studying in Canada. The gang's activities have also led to the deportation of several members, including Abjeet Kingra and Jashandeep Singh, who were involved in violent acts in Canada. The Bishnoi gang's use of student visas to enter and operate in Canada has raised questions about the effectiveness of the country's immigration screening processes. The gang's ability to exploit the system highlights the need for improved screening and monitoring of foreign students to prevent criminal activities.
