India has long warned Canada about the rise of gangs with roots in Punjab. With the recent tensions between the two countries, the focus is back on these Indian gangsters but how did they become so prevalent in Canada?
In 1994, two Canadian gangsters, Bindy Johal and Ron Dosanjh, had a public fight on TV where the former was suspected of killing Ron’s brother. This argument was the start of a violent gang war in Canada, mainly in the Punjabi community.
Just two weeks after that Ron was shot dead, making headlines and further fueling gang violence in the region. Johal, on the other hand, became infamous as a gangster following his takeover of a Mexican cartel and renaming it the Punjabi Mafia.
He was seen as a hero by many young, immigrant Punjabi boys in Canada who were facing racism and didn’t have a voice in the society. Dohal broke the stereotypes of quiet Indian men and became a figure to celebrate Punjabi machismo.
Indian school kids in Canada were imitating his style and sadly looked up to him as a leader of their community. While Dohal’s reign was short lived, his impact on Canada’s youth is everlasting.
Even after his death in 1998, some in the Indian community still revere him as the rebel who fought the system. Unfortunately, many gangs in the region continue to inspire the next generation of youth who easily get attracted with fast money and a dangerous life.
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