Bindy Johal
ted...@direct.ca
Johal's Mythic Status Has Impact On Indo-Canadian Youth
By R. Paul Dhillon
From The Link December 20, 1995. page 6
Vancouver - Bindy Johal, the Vancouver Police's most sought-after person,
finally left town on Sunday for what his family hopes will be a spiritual
re-awakening in India or at least a much needed change of place for a man who
has become Vancouver's answers to the Original Gangster.
Johal was at the centre of the media storm last week when he was arrested and
taken to jail on assault charges resulting from a fight at the Mardi GRAS Pub
in Abbotsford. He was released shortly after his sister and brother-in-law
agreed to put up their Vancouver house to meet the $100,000 bail surety.
Johal gained much infamy during the record breaking eight-month murder trial
in which he was charged with the first degree murder ob brothers Ron (ILWU
Local 500) and Jimmy Dosanjh.
And his mythic mobster status only strengthened as he and five other men were
acquitted recently of the 1994 gangland style slayings of the Dosanjh brothers.
Johal's ability (or unbelievable luck) to escape the jaws of death in the
streets of South Vancouver and found 'not guilty' of the Dosanjh murders has
elevated him to status of a rebel legend among many troubled and lost
Indo-Canadian youth.
According to Vancouver police, many Indo-Canadian youth look up to Johal as a
here. A man who defied the police and beat them at their own game (police
witnesses were deemed untrustworthy by the jury) in getting an acquittal.
From the police's point of view, the 'not guilty' verdict was a dangerous
precedent which has led to a new wave of young Indo-Canadian mobsters on the
scene.
This scene is exemplify by what Vancouver police Constable Anne Drennan
recently described as a group of up to 25 Indo-Canadian males ("just your
regular good looking guys") involved in shootings at several Lower Mainland
(Vancouver local area) night clubs.
Manjit Buttar, 21, an alleged associate of Johal, was charged with attempted
murder last week in one of the shootings in which a New Jersey tourist was
short in the chest at Club NRG in Gastown (old Vancouver).
This reporter recently met with a group of young Indo-Canadian males to see if
Johal's status as a 'hero' among Indo-Canadian youth was in fact a reality.
The small group, consisting of five teens ranging from ages 16 to 18,
emulating Johal's tough and cocky posturing, talked proudly of the man they
described as a "stud".
"Bindy's got balls, man," said one youngster, alluding to Johal's recent night
club outings which all resulted in shootings and fights. "First he beats the
cops in the court and then he shows them what he's made of. The guy is
untouchable."
The teens were glad that no one was hurt in the recent shootings and said
Johal should have laid low for a while after his release. They're happy to see
him leave the country. "He'll be better off in India. There are too many
people gunning after him here."
When asked if any of them are attracted to the world of gangs, they are quick
to dismiss the idea. "No, it's too dangerous. My family would probable kill me
first, If I ever joined a gang," says one.
Meanwhile, a meeting to discuss the issue of gang violence in the
Indo-Canadian community has yet to materialize. But there is talk that some
high powered figures from the community are planning to meet to seek solutions
and community involvement in combating the problem.
In Wednesday, December 13th edition of THE LINK, Shalen Rai, an Indo-Canadian
family and youth counsellor had urged the community leaders for such a meeting.
End of Story
Next.....
Johal's Sister Injured In Latest Shootings......
mebe...@sfu.ca
d. News reports wondered if this was the beginning of a "race war." The police are now guarding the school. And parents and the media are now wondering why there are these racial tensions in their kids' school. And now, despite all the multicult rhetoric and indoctrination, these white kids are beginning to realize that they have to stick together. Their survival depends on it.