U.S.prosecutors unsealed three indictments accusing India-based organized crime networks of orchestrating political killings, extortion, and drug trafficking across Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

Lawrence Bishnoi, a crime boss, and his associate Satinderjeet Singh are charged with ordering the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey temple.The operation, dubbed 'Operation Hard Ball,' involved 24 arrests in multiple countries and 37 charges against suspects.

The indictments allege Bishnoi directed a sprawling network from jail using smuggled phones, recruiting vulnerable minors in India to operate in Canada and the U.S.under student visas.The gang engaged in extortion, drug trafficking, and violent acts, including a 2024 shooting at the home of Rupinder 'Gippy' Grewal.Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and RCMP, collaborated on the two-year investigation, seizing over 1,000 kg of narcotics and firearms.The cases highlight the transnational reach of these criminal groups and their impact on Canadian communities.