The murder of Sidhu Moosewala may not be the first and the last one. In the last two months, four major incidents took place in Punjab.
Murder of Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambiya
International Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambiya was shot dead by five unknown assailants during a Kabaddi match in the Malhian village of Jalandhar on March 14, 2022. The Police have also nominated three main conspirators identified as Sunawar Dhillon, Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha Duneke alias Sukh Singh, both residing in Canada; Jagjit Singh alias Gandhi, residing in Malaysia at present, who conspired to get Sandeep Nangal Ambiya killed.
Mohali grenade attack
An explosion took place in the Intelligence Headquarters of Punjab Police at Sector 77, Mohali on May 9, 2022, at 7:45 pm. The grenade struck on the second floor of the intelligence wing. The attack was carried out with a rocket launcher. Punjab Police decoded the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack case. Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh alias Landa emerged as the key handler, who provided RPG, AK-47, and a local network of criminals for logistic support to carry out the Mohali terror attack.
Patiala violence
The recent clash in Patiala outside the Kali Mata temple took place when members of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) launched the 'Khalistan Murdabad March'. Some Sikh activists also announced another march in retaliation to that march. As a result, swords were hurled at each other, stones were hurled and police fired in the air. Four people were injured in the incident. Fortunately, the situation was quickly brought under control, although the administration imposed a curfew and shut down the Internet. And soon the accused were arrested.
Murder of Sidhu Moosewala
In Jawaharke village, unidentified persons opened fire on Sidhu Moosewala and murdered him on May 29, 2022, at around 5:30 PM. Two of Sidhu's friends were injured in the attack. Sidhu was on his way to his aunt's house. During which they were surrounded and attacked. Meanwhile, Sidhu's gunmen were not with him nor did they take the bulletproof Fortuner vehicle with them. Sidhu himself was driving the Thar Jeep. Just, one day ago his murder his security was reduced. Canada-based gangster Goldi Brar, a close aide of the Lawrence Bishnoi, took responsibility for the killing of Sidhu Moosewala.
Where do the weapons come from?
The weapons used in these incidents are those used by terrorists. A rocket launcher is a weapon used only by terrorists in Afghanistan. In addition to this, the AN-94 weapon was used in the assassination of Sidhu Musewala. Questions are also being raised as to where the gangsters got such weapons from?
The Inception
These groups were made because local residents saw them as protectors or popularly known as 'Masiha.' According to a report published in Tribune, Pape Avenue in downtown Toronto was once the core of the Punjabi public before it expanded to Brampton.
"On Pape Avenue, the Punjabi population used to have a shelter home. People reaching Canada used to first stay there before finding their own accommodation but local residents reportedly harassed them. When confronted by these Punjabis, it turned out to be a serious fight between the two. From there, some of these Punjabi youth saw a potential to benefit," says that report.
Various Punjabi criminal groups
British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario have the most organized Indo-Canadian criminal groups. Brothers Keepers Gang was Formed by Gavinder Singh Grewal.
Apart from a few groups, the Punjabi Mafia group, which was initially considered to be a liberal group but has become more ethnocentric over years. The group is made up of many groups like Dosanjhs, Johals, Adiwals, Cheemas, Buttars, Dhaks, Duhres, and others are among these groups. These gangs are functional even today and famous in Vancouver.
The Sanghera Gang, formed by Uddham Singh Sanghera, was accused by police of more than 100 shooting incidents during the Vancouver gang war in 2009.
The "Lawrence Bishnoi" gang
Bishnoi was a youth leader at Punjab University. His father was a police constable in Punjab Police. Bishnoi is charged with several murder cases in Rajasthan and Punjab.
The ideology of gangsterism
Ethnic gangs had started becoming a part of Vancouver’s landscape in the 1980s in response to racial marginalization because of cultural conflicts within the community. From the turn of the millennium, religious ideology became increasingly enmeshed. Khalistan violence had long been present in Canada, even though issues like the 1984 communal pogrom and Operation Blue Star were rediscovered by a new youth cohort.
According to the Punjab Police, the singer was attacked because he refused to comply with gangsters' extortion demands and they are a soft target too.