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US Indictment Charges Lawrence Bishnoi Gang in Nijjar Assassination, 37 Accused Under Operation Hard Ball

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingPrelims HighMains Medium
07 Jul 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:37 charged24 arrested11 in California2023 assassinationSeptember 2025 designation
Bodies:US Department of JusticeCanadian government
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.US DoJ unsealed indictments charging 37 individuals linked to three India-based organized crime groups, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, for the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, Canada.

2.Operation Hard Ball is a years-long federal probe targeting racketeering, targeted killings, drug trafficking, and extortion affecting the Indian diaspora worldwide.

3.Canada designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity in September 2025, reflecting growing international concern over transnational organized crime.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The US Department of Justice unsealed indictments charging 37 individuals, including members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, for ordering the 2023 assassination of prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The cross-border crackdown, dubbed 'Operation Hard Ball', highlights the global reach of India-based organized crime networks. Canada had designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity in September 2025.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Total Charged37 individuals
Arrested (US/Canada/Europe)24 defendants
Arrested in California11 defendants
Operation NameOperation Hard Ball
Canadian Terror DesignationSeptember 2025
VictimHardeep Singh Nijjar (2023)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Total Charged: 37 individuals
  • ›Arrested (US/Canada/Europe): 24 defendants
  • ›Target this Data: 37 individuals charged, 24 arrested, 11 in California
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: US Department of Justice (DoJ)
  • ›Target this Operation: Operation Hard Ball
  • ›Target this Date: September 2025 (Canada's terrorist designation of Bishnoi gang)

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which country designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the US indictment:

1. The US Department of Justice charged 37 individuals in connection with the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

2. Operation Hard Ball focused solely on drug trafficking activities.

3. Lawrence Bishnoi is currently imprisoned.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the US Department of Justice, how many defendants were arrested in the crackdown?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective of Operation Hard Ball as described in the news?

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