Victoria, Canada: In a major development linked to India’s transnational gang networks, a Canadian court has sentenced 26-year-old Abjeet Kingra to six years in prison for opening fire outside the residence of Indo-Canadian singer AP Dhillon in Colwood, British Columbia, last year.
The sentencing comes just days after gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was officially listed as a “foreign terrorist entity” by Canadian authorities. Kingra is believed to be a close associate of Bishnoi and has admitted to discharging a firearm with intent and arson, charges carrying severe penalties under Canadian criminal law.
The attack occurred on September 2, 2024, when gunshots rang out near Dhillon’s residence, and two vehicles were found engulfed in flames. Although no one was injured, the incident triggered a wide-ranging police investigation due to its apparent links to organised crime.
Kingra, a Winnipeg resident, pleaded guilty in August and received his formal sentence in late September, according to reports from Canadian media outlets. Investigators described the act as deliberate and targeted, allegedly carried out at the direction of members of the Bishnoi crime syndicate.
Another suspect, Vikram Sharma, is believed to have fled to India, and authorities in Canada have issued a warrant for his arrest.
Police believe the attack may have stemmed from AP Dhillon’s collaboration with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, a figure long targeted by Bishnoi’s gang. A music video featuring both Dhillon and Khan reportedly angered the group, who saw the association as a provocation.
Law enforcement officials in both countries are now investigating broader links between the Bishnoi network and overseas operatives. The case has heightened concerns over how Indian gang rivalries are playing out across international borders, particularly in Canada, where a number of such incidents have come to light in recent months.
Canadian police confirmed that no further details would be released at this time due to the ongoing international investigation.
Meanwhile, the sentencing of Kingra marks one of the first judicial acknowledgments in Canada of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang’s expanding global footprint — a development that could influence further diplomatic and legal cooperation between Canada and India.
