Hardeep Nijjar killing: US charges Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar as FBI global op leads to 24 arrests
PTC News Desk: The United States has charged jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close aide Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, with allegedly ordering the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The charges are part of "Operation Hard Ball", a large FBI-led international investigation targeting three transnational organised crime networks. The operation resulted in 24 arrests across North America and Europe.
According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), law enforcement agencies carried out more than 50 search warrants and arrested suspects in California, Indiana, Georgia, Canada and Spain.
The DOJ said a total of 37 people have been charged under three separate federal indictments involving organised crime groups with links to India. So far, 24 accused have been arrested, while 10 remain on the run.
The indictment alleges that Bishnoi used illegal mobile phones and internet-based communication devices from prison to direct a range of criminal activities, including political assassinations, murders, extortion, kidnappings, drug trafficking and human smuggling across several countries.
Prosecutors also identified Goldy Brar as the gang's alleged leader in North America and Rohit Godara as the person overseeing operations in Europe. Investigators claim both played key roles in managing the syndicate's activities outside India.
- With inputs from agencies
