Gangster Goldie Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi’s friendship, which began in 2011 during student politics at Panjab University, has broken down after 15 years. The pair had entered the world of crime together and ran an international criminal empire of extortion, murder, drug trafficking and arms trafficking. According to sources, the main reason for the rift in this friendship is the arrest of Lawrence’s younger brother Anmol Bishnoi in California, USA in November 2024. According to sources, Lawrence feels that Goldie did not do enough to protect Anmol. Secondly, the division of the criminal empire and the battle of business interests have also fueled this rift.
Anmol was arrested on charges of illegally entering the US. He was also wanted in several high-profile cases, such as the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui. The duo started their association from their days at Panjab University, when Lawrence was a student and was active in student politics along with Goldie. After this, the duo ventured into the world of crime and established a vast criminal network.
The duo’s name came up in the murders of Sidhu Moosewala (May 2022), Baba Siddiqui (October 2024), and Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi (December 2023). Apart from this, the gang was also involved in the firing at Salman Khan’s house in April 2024 and the murder of Khalistan supporter Sukhdul Singh (September 2023). Anmol’s arrest has further intensified the already simmering conflict between Lawrence and Goldie. Security agencies fear a gang war due to this split, which has put them on alert.
Is this dispute a drama?
Some people consider the news of the Brar-Bishnoi split to be a conspiracy by Indian security agencies. Some Khalistan supporters, especially those living in Canada, consider it a ploy by the Indian government, whose aim is to defame criminals by linking them with the Khalistani movement. The killings of Sidhu Musewala and Hardeep Singh Nijjar have further increased anger in the Sikh community. The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada increased after the killing of Nijjar in Canada in June 2023, when Canada accused the Indian government of the murder without solid evidence. The Sikh community, especially in Canada, considers it a political conspiracy by India, whose aim is to weaken the Khalistani movement. But Indian security agencies say that this gang is linked to the root of criminal activities. They see it as international activities of criminal organizations, rather than linking it to the Khalistani movement. Opinions are divided in the Sikh community. Some consider it government propaganda, while others consider the criminal activities of this gang to be against the values of Sikhism.
Dense network of gangs in Canada, why is the government helpless?
The network of Brar-Bishnoi gangs is deeply spread in Canada. Goldie Brar, who has been living in the US since 2017, and his associates run extortion, violent activities and drug trafficking in Canada. The Canadian government is having a hard time cracking down on this gang. There are several reasons for this. First, this gang operates internationally, which makes it difficult for local police and authorities to keep track of its activities. Second, Canada’s political and legal procedures, which emphasize political asylum and human rights protection, have provided cover for members of this gang. The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar created a major controversy in Canada-India relations. The Canadian government alleged the involvement of Indian agents in the killing, but the accusation remained controversial due to lack of evidence. This further complicated the action of Canadian authorities. Canada’s soft policy and lengthy legal procedures have hindered the gang’s capture.
