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Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles announce charges against Indian organized criminal group "Bishnoi"
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles charged Lawrence Bishnoi, leader of the Indian organized crime group "Bishnoi," and eight associates for their alleged involvement in the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
- The indictment claims Bishnoi ordered the killing of Nijjar, who advocated for a Sikh homeland called Khalistan and was previously labeled a terrorist by India.
- Despite being jailed in India since 2015, Bishnoi allegedly continued directing global criminal activities, including political assassinations, from prison using smuggled communication devices.
- The indictment also accuses Bishnoi's childhood friend, Satinderjit Singh Brar, of overseeing the group's North American operations and involvement in the assassination plot.
- Additional charges were announced against members of other Indian organized crime groups, including racketeering, extortion, and drug trafficking offenses.
