A terrorist listing in Canada gives the federal government the power to freeze or seize property
New Delhi: Canada on Monday declared the dreaded Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity. “The Bishnoi gang is a transnational criminal organisation operating primarily out of India. They have a presence in Canada and are active in areas with significant diaspora communities,” Canada’s Public Safety Ministry said in a statement.
It added, “The Bishnoi gang has engaged in murder, shootings, and arson, and generates terror through extortion and intimidation. Listing the Bishnoi gang will help Canadian security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies combat their crimes and make communities safer.”
The development comes more than a week after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi.
During their talks, the two sides had agreed to adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral ties, including working closely to combat terrorism and transnational crimes.
With the addition of the Bishnoi Gang, there are now 88 terrorist entities listed under the Criminal Code in Canada.
A terrorist listing gives the federal government the power to freeze or seize property, vehicles and money, along with giving Canadian law enforcement additional tools to prosecute terrorist offences, including those related to financing, travel and recruitment, according to an official statement.
It is a criminal offence for anyone in Canada and Canadians abroad to knowingly deal with property owned or controlled by a terrorist group. It is also an offence to directly or indirectly provide property knowing that it will be used by or benefit a terrorist group.
The Criminal Code listing can also be used by immigration and border officials to inform decisions on admissibility to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
