Front Burner Gunshots, arson, threats: B.C.’s extortion crisis
9 snips
Nov 25, 2025 Baneet Braich, an Abbotsford-based reporter focusing on local incidents of extortion, and Evan Dyer, a CBC journalist specializing in national security, dive deep into B.C.'s alarming extortion crisis linked to foreign interference. They discuss shocking patterns of violence, from shootings to arson, targeting the South Asian community. Community responses reveal fear and frustration, as residents demand stronger action. The guests also explore the intricate ties between local gangs and international politics, highlighting the dire need for accountability and national solutions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
RCMP Links Foreign Agents To Violence
- The RCMP publicly accused agents of the Indian government of an ongoing campaign of violence including homicides and extortion in Canada.
- They said the campaign aimed to create fear and portray Canada as unable to control separatist activists.
India Sees Diaspora Activism As National Security Risk
- India fears diaspora Sikh separatist activism could rekindle insurgency at home and may act to disrupt it abroad.
- That concern helps explain why Indian agencies would target activists and try to deter transnational organizing.
Gangs As Transnational Proxies
- Criminal gangs like the Bishnoi provide deniability and capacity for transnational violence, acting as proxies for state aims.
- Lawrence Bishnoi's network appears to operate internationally despite his imprisonment in India.