Vancouver: Tension has gripped the Indo-Canadian community after shots were fired outside the residence of popular Punjabi singer Channi Nattan in Canada. The incident occurred just a day after the killing of industrialist Darshan Singh Sahsi, and both attacks have reportedly been claimed by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
According to Canadian authorities, no injuries were reported in the firing at Nattan’s home, though the property sustained damage. Police have launched a full-scale investigation and have increased patrols around potential high-risk targets linked to the Punjabi community.
The Bishnoi syndicate, which has a history of cross-border criminal operations, claimed responsibility for the shooting and Sahsi’s murder through a social media post. A gang member identified as Goldie Dhillon alleged online that Sahsi was targeted for refusing to pay “protection money” and accused him of links to illegal trade.
The Bishnoi gang, led by jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, is one of South Asia’s most dangerous criminal networks. Despite Bishnoi’s imprisonment since 2014, his organisation reportedly continues to coordinate extortion, contract killings, and narcotics operations from inside India’s prisons. The group’s activities have spread internationally, particularly in countries with large Punjabi populations such as Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Canadian officials have already categorised the Bishnoi outfit as a terrorist organisation, following its alleged involvement in high-profile crimes — including the 2022 assassination of singer Sidhu Moosewala. Security agencies say the gang’s growing reach poses a major concern for law enforcement worldwide.
Investigators are now examining whether the shooting at Channi Nattan’s residence was an intimidation tactic linked to extortion demands or part of a broader campaign to assert the gang’s influence among Punjabi figures abroad.
Local police have urged the community to remain calm while additional security measures are being implemented. So far, no arrests have been made.
