The United States announces charges against jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and fugitive Goldy Brar, accusing them of ordering the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. Prosecutors say the killing is alleged to have taken place outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June 2023. An indictment unsealed in Los Angeles is reported to describe Nijjar as “H.S.N.” in court documents.
Alongside the charges, authorities in the US, Canada and parts of Europe carry out a coordinated crackdown described as “Operation Hardball.” Across these countries, 37 people linked to India-based transnational organised crime groups are charged, and 24 are arrested. Reported figures include 11 arrests in California. Sources also say the operation targets members associated with three transnational organised crime groups, with allegations extending beyond the Nijjar case to other criminal activities.
The reports describe cooperation among multiple jurisdictions to pursue and dismantle the alleged criminal networks. Statements attributed to US prosecutors characterize the effort as denying protection to the accused and their organisations.
