Bindy Johal - Indo-Canadian Mafia - Dosanjh Murders

Dosanjh Murders

Johal was suspected in the murders of several Indo-Canadians, including the Dosanjh brothers. The high profile Dosanjh brothers had allegedly taken control of Vancouver drug networks connected to a Colombian crime cartel. Jimsher (Jimmy) Dosanjh (26) and Ranjit (Ron) Dosanjh (29), were murdered in February 25 and April 19, 1994 respectively. After Jimmy's death in February, Ron and Bindy often challenged each other on commercial news broadcasts. (Johal was repeatedly quoted on Canadian television networks, stating, "Basically, I just want these guys to know you got another thing coming b**ch".) Another feud between Johal and the Dosanjh brothers arose from the power struggle to control the Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver. Johal was a moderate, whereas the Dosanjh brothers were fundamentalists. The Dosanjh brothers were both members of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), and were trying to push for control of this temple. At the gurdwara election, it was reported that Bindy Johal was making gestures with his hands towards the Fundamentalists.

Jimmy Dosanjh was charged in the March 14, 1991 killing of drug dealer Theodore Salcedo, 25, who was dumped behind a rehab centre. At the trial, Jimmy's charges were dropped as witnesses were unable to positively identify him as the shooter. Apparently the witnesses had been threatened. The Dosanjh family had placed a $50,000 reward for information leading to his killers arrest.

After the shooting death of Jimmy in an east Vancouver backlane, Johal was on television news claiming he was not involved in Jimmy's shooting, and also declined to say where he was the night of February 25, 1994. Johal called Jimmy a "bum" who didn't pay his bills, and said someone was calling the Johal family home threatening his family. In response to this, Ron Dosanjh appeared on television saying he would "shoot Bindy between the eyes" if he ever came near the Dosanjh home.

Ron Dosanjh was eventually killed in what was described as "the city's most brazen shooting." The drive-by shooting which fatally wounded Ron Dosanjh took place before 10 a.m on Kingsway Street, Vancouver on April 19, 1994. A grey Ford Taurus was stolen by the Johal group, and as it pulled up beside Ron's red GMC pick up, Dosanjh was shot with a high powered AR-15 rifle that caused his red pickup truck to collide with a tree. Ron had been shot several times in the face and upper body which caused him to lose control of the truck, go up the curb, take out a pay phone booth, and roll three times before ending up against a tree. Ron Dosanjh also owned and operated a auto repair shop in Burnaby, B.C. Two weeks after the attempt on Dhillon's life, Ron Dosanjh's wife was injured in a drive by shooting in late March, 1991.

Johal and several of his peers were indicted of the Dosanjh murders and were sentenced to trial on February 27, 1995. The trial was one of the most costly, complicated and longest trials in British Columbia. The trial also achieved infamy after an accused was suspected of being intimately involved with a juror. Johal was acquitted of first degree murder.

Johal's trusted sidekick, Bal Buttar, was second in command of gang operations. Johal and Buttar met in a jail cell in 1997. Despite their close relationship, Buttar was concerned for his life, realizing that Johal was murdering close associates in their gang. Buttar and Johal were apprehended by the police in December 1998 for making an illegal U-turn on Scott Road in Surrey, BC. As Johal was discovered to be in possession of a concealed firearm, Buttar suspecting Johal was planning his murder. As Johal wished to avoid a conviction, Johal convinced Buttar to admit the weapon was his.