The recent admission by Goldy Brar, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, regarding the shooting at AP Dhillon's residence in Canada has shed light on the gang's motives and operational methods. Brar, in a BBC documentary called 'The Killing Call', confessed that the attack was orchestrated to instill fear within the Punjabi music industry, ultimately facilitating extortion. This revelation underscores the calculated and ruthless nature of the gang's activities, revealing how they leverage fear to maintain dominance and generate revenue.
The incident, which occurred in September 2024, involved gunfire outside Dhillon's Vancouver home, with two vehicles also being set ablaze. While the singer was unharmed, the event sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and prompted investigations by Canadian authorities. Subsequently, in November 2024, Abjeet Kingra, a 25-year-old, was arrested in connection with the shooting, while a second shooter remains at large.
Brar's justification for the attack, articulated in the BBC documentary, highlights the gang's perspective on their actions. He stated that extortion is a means to "feed families," suggesting a warped sense of necessity and entitlement. This rationale underscores the socio-economic factors that contribute to gang violence and the justifications used by perpetrators to rationalize their criminal behavior.
Investigative journalist Ishleen Kaur, who interviewed Brar for the documentary, pointed out that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's notoriety and ability to extort money significantly increased after the murder of Sidhu Moosewala in 2022. According to her, Sidhu's murder propelled Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar into the limelight, transforming Sidhu's fame into their own notoriety, which they then exploited for extortion. Brar, when questioned about the financial gains following Moosewala's death, insisted that their motives extended beyond mere profit, but he admitted that the attack on AP Dhillon's house was aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear to facilitate extortion calls.
The targeting of celebrities like AP Dhillon reflects a broader trend of organized crime groups seeking to exert influence over the entertainment industry. By instilling fear, these gangs aim to control artists and extract financial gains, disrupting the creative process and undermining the industry's integrity.
Goldy Brar has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the Ministry of Home Affairs in India. He is associated with Babbar Khalsa International, and is implicated in killings, cross-border activities, arms smuggling, and extortion. He is also among Canada's top 25 most wanted fugitives, with a reward of $50,000 offered for information leading to his arrest.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also been actively pursuing Goldy Brar, charging him and others in extortion cases. In one instance, the NIA chargesheeted Brar and nine others in connection with an extortion case in Chandigarh, where gang members fired at a businessman's house after he refused to pay protection money. This case highlights the gang's modus operandi of targeting affluent individuals and using violence to enforce their demands.
The revelations surrounding the attack on AP Dhillon's house serve as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat posed by organized crime and the importance of robust law enforcement efforts to combat these activities.
