India has reiterated its commitment to combating terrorism and transnational organised crime following the recent US federal indictment of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been accused of orchestrating several criminal activities, including the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Addressing a media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains committed to working closely with international partners to tackle cross-border organised crime and terrorism.
MEA Responds to US Indictment
Jaiswal said the government has taken note of remarks made by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) linking members of the Lawrence Bishnoi organised crime network to Nijjar’s killing. He added that the RCMP’s observations are consistent with allegations contained in the recently unsealed US federal indictment.
Without commenting on the specifics of the ongoing legal proceedings, the MEA reiterated India’s broader commitment to strengthening international cooperation against organised criminal networks.
Focus on International Cooperation
The ministry said India is committed to working with partner countries to combat terrorism, transnational organised crime and related security threats through established legal and diplomatic mechanisms.
The statement comes amid increasing international attention on allegations surrounding the activities of the Lawrence Bishnoi network and follows recent developments in investigations conducted by authorities in the United States and Canada.
Background
The US indictment alleges that Lawrence Bishnoi directed a series of criminal operations, including the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan separatist who was shot dead in British Columbia, Canada, in 2023. The case has remained a key point of diplomatic discussion between India and Canada.
Indian authorities have not commented on the merits of the allegations in the indictment but have reiterated their commitment to cooperating with international partners in addressing transnational organised crime.