B.C. Premier David Eby is calling on the federal government to designate an India-based gang allegedly involved in extorting South Asian businesses in Canada as a terrorist organization.
Eby told reporters Tuesday he will write to Prime Minister Mark Carney to request the designation for the Lawrence Bishnoi group, saying it would give police more investigative powers.
“We don’t make this recommendation lightly,” said Eby. “This activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy and in their safety and community.”
He pointed to Ottawa’s move in February to list several Mexican cartel groups as terrorist entities.
According to Public Safety Canada, a terrorist designation allows authorities to freeze a group’s assets in Canada and provides police with additional tools to prosecute offences related to financing, travel and recruitment.
The RCMP said last year it had created a nationally co-ordinated team to investigate reports of extortion and threats targeting South Asian communities. Police departments across the country have received reports that individuals or businesses were being contacted with demands for money and threatened with violence if they refused to pay.
Surrey police said there have been 10 reports of extortion in the city over the past six months.
Public Safety Minister Gary Begg and police leaders attended a safety forum on Sunday organized by members of Surrey’s South Asian community. Begg urged victims of extortion to come forward and report it to police.
Elenore Sturko, the B.C. Conservatives’ public safety critic, said in a statement Tuesday the NDP government is not doing enough to address concerns from community members. She said many are too afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation.
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