Feds make arrests linked to alleged gangster jailed in India

Federal, provincial and international authorities have arrested 24 alleged members of international organized crime groups, including those believed to be linked to the 2023 assassination of a Sikh activist outside a temple in Canada.

Authorities made arrests in the United States, Canada and Europe, including eight people in Southern California, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

Those charged in one of three separate federal indictments unsealed in Los Angeles include Lawrence Bishnoi, who allegedly personally directed political assassinations, murders, shootings, extortions, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling and other crimes from his prison cell in India.

Bishnoi and his childhood friend Satinderjeet Singh allegedly ordered the June 2023 murder of a prominent religious and political leader from the Indian state of Punjab living in British Columbia. Although authorities identified the victim only by his initials, HSN, media reports identify him as Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Federal, local. and international officials are expected to provide more details about the federal charges and arrests at a news conference Tuesday morning.