# Bishnoi gang letter claims 5,000 foot soldiers in Canada 2026-09-17T09:38:15+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets A letter allegedly sent by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to Canadian law enforcement in August 2025 warns it has over 5,000 foot soldiers and will 'takeover CANADA'. The letter, addressed to the Abbotsford Police Department, was obtained by CBC News and later released through an Access to Information Act request for exhibits from an Immigration and Refugee Board hearing involving a Bishnoi associate, according to The New Indian Express. The letter, ostensibly from Goldy Brar, Bishnoi's former North America lieutenant, says gang members 'can do shooting for only $1,000' and claims 'more guns' than the police. It warns every business owner will soon have to pay protection money as 'tax'. Canada Border Services Agency documents note it is 'unclear' if Brar is leveraging his split from the gang to take over operations, says Hindustan Times. FINTRAC issued a special bulletin detailing a campaign where young Indian nationals on study permits are used as foot soldiers for extortion. Two days before the letter's release, CBSA deported Karamveer Singh, a close Bishnoi associate, along with four other Indian-origin nationals for organised crime links. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Both outlets report the letter's content without significant slant, offering straight news coverage. Hindustan Times leads with Brar's name and the 5,000 figure, while The New Indian Express emphasises the letter's release via an immigration hearing and the subsequent deportations. The balanced reading is that the letter is a brazen claim, but its veracity is unconfirmed. The key development to watch is whether Canadian authorities, who have already deported several Bishnoi-linked individuals, will escalate action following this written threat. CBSA's tactical guide noting Brar may be splitting from Bishnoi adds a layer of complexity: the threat could stem from an internal power struggle. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Reports letter content and Brar's background without commentary - newindianexpress.com (neutral report) Leads with deportation context and IRB hearing documents Tags: Abbotsford Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Goldy Brar, Lawrence Bishnoi Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bishnoi-gang-letter-claims-5000-foot-soldiers-in-canada/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bishnoi-gang-letter-claims-5000-foot-soldiers-in-canada/#story-in-brief