US authorities charge Indian crime leader in Sikh activist's assassination

Washington DC [US], July 9: Authorities in the United States have announced charges against the leader of an Indian criminal group in connection with the political assassination of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada - a high-profile killing that plunged relations between Ottawa and New Delhi into crisis.
The charges were part of a massive law enforcement operation involving agencies across the US, Canada and Europe that swept up 37 defendants who are allegedly part of three Indian international crime syndicates tied to kidnappings, racketeering, extortion, firearms dealing, drug trafficking and murder, US Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli announced at a news conference on Tuesday.
He spoke alongside officials with the Los Angeles Police Department, the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authorities are still searching for seven fugitives in the US, two in India and one in Europe. Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and his childhood friend Satinderjeet Singh are accused of orchestrating the assassination of a well-known Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside of a temple where he served as president in 2023.
Source: Qatar Tribune