A 25-year-old individual hired to intimidate Punjabi artist AP Dhillon by the Bishnoi gang in Canada arrived in the country four years ago on a student visa, as per court documents reviewed by CBC News. The presiding judge, Lisa Mrozinski, noted that the accused, Abjeet Kingra, faced challenges in academics and the job market, leading him to take on the attack to address his family’s financial needs.
Kingra was recently sentenced to six years in prison for arson and a firearms offense related to a violent incident in September 2024, where he and an accomplice set fire to vehicles in Dhillon’s driveway and shot 14 rounds into his residence. Following the attack, they evaded a police officer’s attempt to apprehend them during a traffic stop. While Kingra was arrested in Ontario three weeks later, his co-accused, Vikram Sharma, is believed to be in India.
Mrozinski highlighted the unusual nature of Kingra’s actions, mentioning that he recorded the entire event on a body camera, leading to the Bishnoi gang claiming responsibility soon after. The judge described the footage as almost resembling a movie scene, emphasizing the severity of the incident in a residential area.
The case sheds light on the Bishnoi gang, recently designated as a terrorist group by the Canadian government. Originating from Punjab and Haryana in India, the gang has expanded its criminal activities to North America, focusing on illicit activities like drug smuggling and extortion for financial gain.
AP Dhillon, a successful singer and producer, faced threats from the Bishnoi gang due to his association with individuals linked to the gang. The judge referenced Dhillon’s music video featuring Bollywood star Salman Khan, which angered the gang following Khan’s alleged involvement in hunting a revered antelope species.
Mrozinski characterized Kingra as a follower in the criminal enterprise but noted the well-planned nature of the attack, including surveillance activities before the violence ensued. The judge emphasized that the crimes were orchestrated to instill fear and terror, orchestrated on behalf of an international criminal organization.
Despite Kingra’s aspirations of education and residency in Canada, his visa expiration looms, and he faces deportation due to his criminal convictions. He was sentenced to two years for arson and six years for discharging a firearm at Dhillon’s property, with a total prison term of four years and eight months following credit for time served.
Overall, the case underscores the dangerous implications of criminal gang activities infiltrating Canadian communities and the serious consequences for individuals involved in such illicit operations.