Bishnoi Gang's Shadow Reaches B.C. Suburb
A case that reads like a crime thriller has concluded in British Columbia — but the story is far from over. An Indian national convicted of carrying out an extortion and arson attack on the Victoria-area home of internationally acclaimed Punjabi singer AP Dhillon says he now fears for his life.
The man, who carried out the attack on behalf of the notorious Bishnoi gang, told the court that the same criminal organization has vowed to kill him if he is deported back to India. It's a chilling twist that underscores just how dangerous and far-reaching transnational gang networks have become — and how their tentacles have wrapped themselves around Canadian communities.
Who Is the Bishnoi Gang?
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang is one of India's most feared criminal organizations, known for contract killings, extortion, and high-profile threats against celebrities. The gang has been linked to the murder of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala in 2022 and has claimed responsibility for attacks on several public figures.
AP Dhillon — who rose to global fame with hits that bridged Punjabi pop and Western R&B — became a target after the gang allegedly issued threats against him. The attack on his Victoria-area property was part of an extortion campaign, and the convicted man was essentially a foot soldier carrying out orders from handlers based abroad.
A Conviction With Complicated Consequences
The sentencing brings some measure of justice, but it also puts a spotlight on a thorny immigration and public safety dilemma. The convicted man's legal team has argued that deporting him to India would be tantamount to a death sentence — a claim that Canadian courts and immigration authorities will now have to weigh carefully.
This isn't the first time Canadian courts have had to grapple with the intersection of transnational crime and immigration. South Asian gang violence has increasingly spilled onto Canadian soil, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario, as criminal networks exploit diaspora communities and Canadian legal pathways to extend their reach.
Canada's Growing Problem With Transnational Crime
Law enforcement agencies across Canada have been sounding the alarm about gang networks operating across borders. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and provincial forces have identified South Asian organized crime as a growing threat, with cells operating in Metro Vancouver, the Greater Toronto Area, and beyond.
The AP Dhillon case is a stark reminder that Canada is not immune to the violence and intimidation tactics of foreign criminal organizations. When international pop stars have their homes targeted in quiet B.C. suburbs, it signals that these networks are emboldened and increasingly willing to operate openly on Canadian soil.
What Happens Next
The convicted man's fate now rests partly with immigration authorities and the courts. His claims of gang retaliation will likely be assessed as part of any deportation proceedings — a process that could take months or years to resolve.
Meanwhile, AP Dhillon has continued performing and has not publicly commented in detail on the case. His fans across Canada — and there are many — will be watching closely.
The case serves as a sobering reminder that the reach of transnational criminal organizations doesn't stop at any border, and that Canada must continue developing robust responses to protect both public figures and ordinary residents from intimidation and violence carried out on behalf of foreign gangs.
Source: CBC News
