Interview/ Gaurav Yadav, DGP, Punjab
Once celebrated as a land of opportunity for Punjabi immigrants, Canada is turning into no-go zone over allegations that violent crime, gang networks and extremism are gaining root in the country. As Canada comes under scrutiny from Indian officials who claim it has become a ‘safe haven’ for criminals and separatist elements targeting India, the outcome can have serious repercussions. India believes that Canada is harbouring dangerous individuals and groups with strong ties to organised crime and pro-Khalistan networks. Punjab has felt the consequences most acutely.
In an exclusive conversation with THE WEEK, Punjab’s director general of police Gaurav Yadav says the state has seen a surge in violent crimes orchestrated by organised criminal networks based in Canada and the United States. He says around 25 gangsters from Punjab, notorious for their involvement in activities ranging from drug trafficking to contract killings, are wanted across North America. Many of these criminals, he says, have links with pro-Khalistan groups abroad. Given the history of Pakistan fuelling violent separatist movements in Punjab, the state is wary of criminal elements in Canada forging close ties with Pak-based terror groups. Excerpts:
Q/ How many wanted criminals from Punjab are operating in Canada and the US?
A/ In the last few years, a number of criminals from Punjab and other states of north India have managed to escape to foreign countries, including Canada and the US. Also, several criminals of Punjabi origin based in these countries, who previously had little or no criminal background, have emerged. All such criminals have become a part of organised criminal networks (OCNs) spread across several countries.
At least 25 gangsters or organised criminals hailing from Punjab are wanted in the US and Canada. What is also of serious concern for India is the forging of linkages between some of these OCNs with important pro-Khalistan terrorist nodes based abroad. The association of Canada-based Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla with the now deceased self-proclaimed chief of the terrorist outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is a case in point. Similarly, Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, a notorious gangster who is now based in Pakistan and is actively associated with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has forged links with gangsters such as Lakhvir Singh alias Landa Harike (in Canada) and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian (in the US). They have been the masterminds of a number of terrorist attacks in Punjab. While many of them have used illegal routes to reach foreign shores, others such as Arsh Dalla and Lakhvir Landa went abroad on their own passports on student or visitor visas, but have managed to stay back despite the expiry of their visas. Recently, newspaper reports claimed that associates of Landa were detained by Canadian authorities for travelling on fake passports.
Burning anger: Thousands gather at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in Brampton to protest the Khalistani attack on the temple | Getty Images
Q/ Where are these terrorists based? Have you approached the Centre for their deportation?
A/ They are mostly based in California in the US and Surrey and Vancouver (British Columbia), Brampton (Ontario) and Edmonton (Alberta) in Canada. We have issued lookout circulars and blue and red corner notices and are working in close coordination with the government of India for their deportation.
Q/ Are there links between gangsters based in Canada and terror groups in Pakistan?
A/ Since the beginning of the pro-Khalistani movement in the 1980s, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence has played the central role in fanning violent and secessionist activities, providing active support to all such elements based in the Sikh diaspora. On the recent attempts to revive pro-Khalistani militancy in Punjab, the ISI has been the mastermind of the efforts to forge linkages between pro-Khalistan elements based abroad and Punjab-origin organised criminal networks. To achieve this objective, the ISI has been providing weapons, explosives, training and improvised explosive devices, besides offering funds to terror operatives. It has also started roping in gangsters for terror attacks in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi. Since September 2019, drones are being regularly used by the ISI and foreign-based elements of proscribed terrorist organisations to deliver arms, ammunition and explosives. The ISI has also started cultivating Punjab gangsters lodged in prisons and those outside for using their criminal network for smuggling of weapons and narcotics and formation of terror modules.
Q/ How are gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi running clandestine operations from jail?
A/ We have initiated many steps to check the use of mobile communication from jails by creating special communication dead zones. However, there are challenges like throwing of mobile phones over the boundary walls. Some jails are located near residential areas, where it becomes difficult to block signals completely.
Q/ How has the use of technology emboldened transnational terror and criminal syndicates?
A/ Pro-Khalistan terrorists and gangsters based in the US, Canada, Pakistan and other foreign countries are increasingly using OTT (over-the-top) mode on mobile telephony for covert communication. This poses a serious challenge to break their communication network and gather real time information about their clandestine activities. Social media is widely used by these transnational terror and criminal syndicates for ‘talent spotting’ of radicalised youth and recruiting foot soldiers for executing their plans.