Canadian Police Commissioner’s big statement: There is no threat to citizens from Indian agents

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duhem said in a CTV interview (which aired March 19-20, 2026, with host Vassy Capelos) that ongoing investigations show that **there is no link** between cross-border repression, intimidation, harassment or covert activities occurring in Canada and any foreign entity—including the Government of India.

Duhem clarified his earlier statements in 2024—which were based on specific investigations at that time—that linked certain activities to agents or representatives of the Indian government. He stressed that in the ongoing files “not all links always connect to a foreign entity.” “Based on the criminal information we have and the investigations we have, we do not see any connection to any foreign entity at this time,” he said, adding that although incidents of bullying and harassment do occur, there is no evidence of any connection to state actors in any of the current cases.

Addressing concerns over public safety in South Asian communities—particularly amid the recent return of Indian diplomats following the normalization of diplomatic ties—Duhem reiterated that there has been no evidence of any threat from agents linked to India. He urged people to report suspicious activities: “If they see anything suspicious, report it,” and also noted the challenges of coordinated efforts by law enforcement agencies and the fear people have about reporting.

Regarding the Lawrence Bishnoi gang—which is accused of extortion in Canadian cities like Surrey, Brampton and Calgary—Duhem said that not all cases are directly linked to the gang—some simply misuse its name—and there are **no confirmed links** to the Indian government. A national coordination center works to identify common patterns or links in extortion investigations.

This situation represents a change from the stressed environment of 2023-2024; That tension began with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that he linked India to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (a terrorist declared in India). Relations between the two countries have now improved significantly, which was reflected in the official visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India (February 27–March 2, 2026); This was his first visit to India as Prime Minister, the aim of which was to bring relations between the two countries back on track, promote trade and strengthen mutual cooperation.

The RCMP’s stance reflects its preference for evidence-based assessments amid reduced diplomatic tensions between the two countries and concerns over cross-border crime.