US confirms it will seek Lawrence Bishnoi's extradition from India
The United States Department of Justice has confirmed that it intends to seek the extradition of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from India as part of an ongoing investigation into the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
US officials said the extradition process is expected to move forward, though they acknowledged that such legal proceedings are often lengthy and may take years to conclude.
Bishnoi has been named in a US federal indictment alongside his alleged associate Goldy Brar and other individuals accused of involvement in organised criminal activities. The indictment alleges that Bishnoi directed operations from prison, while US authorities have clarified that the charges are aimed at individuals and do not allege involvement by the Indian government.
Any extradition request would be governed by the India-US Extradition Treaty and India's legal process. If the US formally submits a request, Indian authorities and courts will review it before the central government makes a final decision. The development marks another step in international efforts to address transnational organised crime through legal cooperation between countries.
