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Darshan Singh Sahsi, a Punjabi-Canadian businessman and president of Canam International, was shot outside his Abbotsford home. Did his refusal to pay extortion money trigger one of the most audacious crimes linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang abroad?
Sahsi was shot outside his home in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Abbotsford: Darshan Singh Sahsi, a 68-year-old Punjabi-Canadian businessman and president of Canam International, was shot dead outside his Abbotsford home on October 27. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, notorious for extortion and targeted killings, claimed responsibility, alleging Sahsi refused to pay money and was involved in drug trafficking. The incident has left the local community and diaspora shocked, raising concerns about the reach of criminal networks targeting businessmen abroad.
Abbotsford Police responded promptly after a report of a shooting on Ridgeview Drive at around 9:22 am. Upon arrival, officers found Sahsi in critical condition inside his parked vehicle. Emergency responders attempted to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Nearby schools were placed under a precautionary “shelter-in-place” protocol, though no students were harmed.
Sahsi hailed from Rajgarh village in Ludhiana district of Punjab and moved to Canada in 1991. He initially worked in odd jobs before acquiring a stake in a struggling textile recycling unit, Canam International. Under his leadership, the company grew into a global enterprise processing nearly half a million pounds of textiles daily, promoting a closed-loop circular textile economy through recycling and downcycling.
Sahsi was also known for philanthropic contributions and supporting the Punjabi community in Canada and business ventures in India, including operations in Kandla, Gujarat. His untimely death has left both his family and business associates devastated.
Investigations reveal that the shooter was waiting across the road in a parked car. As Sahsi entered his vehicle, the assailant opened fire multiple times before fleeing the scene. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, led by Goldy Dhillon, later claimed responsibility on social media, alleging Sahsi refused extortion demands.
Canadian authorities recently declared the Bishnoi syndicate a “terrorist entity,” allowing police to freeze assets, restrict travel, and prosecute financing and recruitment activities. However, this designation has not deterred gang activities abroad, as previous drive-by shootings targeting other businessmen in Surrey occurred soon after the listing.
Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims responsibility for killing Darshan Singh Sahsi.
The Abbotsford Police have launched a full homicide investigation. Dhillon, a high-profile gang member wanted by Indian authorities for extortion and targeted killings, has a history of violent acts in Canada, including attacks on establishments owned by rivals. Police continue to investigate possible links between Sahsi’s alleged refusal to pay extortion money and the murder.
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Sahsi’s death underscores the vulnerabilities faced by diaspora entrepreneurs amid transnational criminal networks. His contributions to sustainable business, philanthropy, and community development remain a lasting legacy. Canadian authorities have assured residents that they will intensify efforts to dismantle organized criminal operations and prevent further incidents.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been linked to a string of brutal crimes spanning India and abroad. In India, Bishnoi, despite being incarcerated, is reported to have controlled a syndicate of over 700 shooters across multiple states. Notably, the gang is alleged to have planned the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022 from behind bars, with associate Goldy Brar publicly claiming responsibility. Furthermore, the gang claimed the October 2024 assassination of politician Baba Siddique in Mumbai, citing revenge motives linked to earlier killings.
In Canada and British Columbia, the gang’s reach is also evident. Canadian authorities and media have reported multiple shootings and arson attacks tied to the gang or its affiliates, including extortion-linked violence in Surrey and Maple Ridge. The fact that Canada has designated the gang a terrorist entity underscores the severity of its cross‑border operations.
These incidents demonstrate a pattern of extortion, targeted killings, and international mobility, elements that now cast sharper light on the killing of Darshan Singh Sahsi and its alleged motives.
