Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Canada has moved a step closer to deporting alleged Lawrence Bishnoi gang shooter Abhijeet Kingra to India after the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) ordered his removal from the country.
In its ruling, the IRB stated that Kingra is associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been linked to organized criminal activities including murder, extortion, shootings, arson, and intimidation.
Kingra had arrived in Canada in 2018 on a study permit. Investigating agencies allege that after settling in the country, he gradually became involved with the Bishnoi gang and started working for the criminal network.
Canadian authorities have connected Kingra to the September 2024 attack on Punjabi singer AP Dhillon’s residence in Colwood, British Columbia. Investigators claim that Kingra fired around 14 rounds outside the singer’s home while an accomplice allegedly set vehicles parked outside on fire. A video later surfaced on social media in which individuals linked to the Bishnoi gang reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kingra and another associate are also accused in a similar incident that took place in Surrey, British Columbia.
During immigration proceedings, Kingra claimed he had been offered 4,000 Canadian dollars to participate in the attack and argued that he was unaware he was working for the Bishnoi gang. He said his intention was to earn money to support his family financially.
However, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) rejected his explanation, arguing that organized crime groups operate through layered networks where lower-level members often know only their immediate contacts.
IRB member Azeem Lalji noted in the decision that a British Columbia court had already recognized Kingra as a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The board also observed that the gang has been involved in threats, extortion, and violent incidents targeting Indo-Canadian business owners, singers, and other members of the community.
