British Columbia’s call to classify the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization is rooted in police intelligence connecting the group to extortion threats targeting South Asian communities, says Public Safety Minister Garry Begg.
The provincial government has committed $100,000 toward a 60-day Crime Stoppers campaign aimed at raising awareness and encouraging victims and witnesses to come forward.
“There is fear in the community,” Begg said during a Thursday news conference, emphasizing that extortion should be viewed as a public safety issue, not a private matter. He urged victims to report any threatening calls to law enforcement.
Premier David Eby recently announced that the province would formally ask Ottawa to label the India-based gang as a terrorist group. Such a designation would allow for asset freezes and expanded police authority. Begg noted that the Bishnoi gang has “publicly linked themselves” to incidents in B.C., adding that international and local investigations support the government’s request.
In Surrey, Mayor Brenda Locke described the threats as “economic terrorism” and stressed that fear should not prevent people from contacting the police. “The violence and intimidation our community faces are unacceptable,” Locke said, pointing to a spike in local extortion reports tied to criminal groups.
Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski reported 12 extortion-related investigations this year, though none have advanced to Crown prosecutors. He believes many more incidents go unreported. Police in Abbotsford are also probing similar threats allegedly tied to the same gang.
Eby said the province is working with Ontario and Alberta, which face similar threats, to build national support for the terrorist label. He expressed hope that broader provincial backing would speed up the federal government’s response.
The community recently held public forums in response to increased threats delivered via phone calls, letters and online messages. Begg said these developments highlight why action at both provincial and federal levels is necessary.
