Surrey Sikh Community on Alert as FBI Places Goldy Brar on Most Wanted List
Surrey's Sikh community is confronting a fresh wave of international attention after the FBI placed a top Bishnoi gang lieutenant on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, offering one million U.S. dollars for information tied to the 2023 murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara. The move by American law enforcement reflects the cross-border dimensions of violence targeting Sikh leaders in British Columbia, a matter that has preoccupied the community for more than three years. Amid this sober backdrop, Surrey is also hosting its fifth consecutive International Sikh Research Summit, affirming the city's role as a global centre for Sikh scholarship and dialogue.
FBI Adds Goldy Brar to Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List
The FBI has added Satinderjeet Singh, widely known as Goldy Brar, to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is offering one million U.S. dollars for information leading to his arrest. Brar is accused of orchestrating the June 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C. Nijjar was described in the article as a Sikh separatist leader at the time of his killing. Brar is alleged to be a top lieutenant in the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and has been charged with his alleged role in a broad range of criminal activity, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, assaults, and drug trafficking. Patrick Grandy, the FBI assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles Field Office, stated at a news conference on Monday that Brar joins the notorious Top 10 list because he is considered extremely violent and an enemy to the public, adding that the FBI has made his apprehension a priority. Brar was named in a U.S. indictment released earlier in the summer as part of a sweeping cross-border investigation into racketeering, extortion, and murder involving a trio of India-linked crime syndicates. He was formally charged in July with ordering the killing of Nijjar. Radio-Canada published the report on September 28, 2026, and Singh was charged in July for ordering the 2023 assassination outside the Surrey Sikh temple. [2]
U.S. Announces Arrests as Bishnoi Gang Members Charged Over B.C. Sikh Leader's Killing
Global News reported that members of the Bishnoi gang have been charged with ordering the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the B.C. Sikh leader shot outside his gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023. According to Global News, United States authorities announced multiple arrests in connection with the killing as part of a broader law enforcement initiative. The report is headlined 'Bishnoi gang members charged with ordering hit on B.C. Sikh leader, U.S. announces arrests,' signalling that formal criminal charges have now been laid in U.S. courts against individuals alleged to have directed the violence. The case has evolved into a major international law enforcement matter, with American prosecutors now actively pursuing accountability for violence that took place on Canadian soil. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, whose alleged activities include violence targeting Sikh community leaders in British Columbia, stands at the centre of a cross-border criminal investigation. The Sikh community in Surrey has followed the legal proceedings with close attention, given Nijjar's prominence and his long-standing connection to the gurdwara community in the city. The charges represent a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in what had long been treated primarily as a Canadian law enforcement and diplomatic matter. [8]
🎉 Surrey Hosts Its Fifth International Sikh Research Summit
The City of Surrey is hosting the 5th Annual International Sikh Research Summit, as listed on the official city events page at surrey.ca. The summit, now in its fifth year, marks a continuing commitment by Surrey to serve as a hub for Sikh academic research, scholarship, and community dialogue. By listing the event on its official website, the city has signalled institutional support for Sikh cultural and intellectual life within the municipality. Surrey is home to one of the largest Sikh populations outside of India and South Asia, and events such as the International Sikh Research Summit reflect the depth of the community's presence in city life. The summit brings together researchers, community leaders, and scholars to present and discuss work related to Sikh history, theology, culture, and contemporary issues. Its presence on the City of Surrey's news-and-events calendar underlines the city's recognition of Sikh research and scholarship as a matter of broad civic interest, connecting local community life to global conversations about Sikhism. The summit's international character also positions Surrey as a destination for Sikh thinkers from around the world. [1]
Sources: [2] Radio-Canada · [8] Global News · [1] City of Surrey