India, Canada discussed Bishnoi gang at secret meet, claims US report

The report by the US-based newspaper is based on remarks by anonymous Canadian officials.

Amid the diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over the alleged targeting of pro-Khalistan separatist figures, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval held a secret meeting with his Canadian counterpart in Singapore last week, according to a report in The Washington Post.

In the meeting, the Canadian officials outlined alleged evidence showing that India had enlisted networks of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to carry out the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and attacks on Sikh separatists.

The report by the US-based newspaper is based on remarks by anonymous Canadian officials. The Ministry for External Affairs has not yet responded to claims made in The Washington Post report.

The report, citing Canadian officials, claimed Doval initially "pretended not to have any idea" who Lawrence Bishnoi was.

Later, the NSA acknowledged that Bishnoi was "capable of orchestrating violence from wherever he is incarcerated" and "was known to be up to no good from his jail cell", the report claimed.