Threats against Bollywood actor Salman Khan, the gruesome murder of Sidhu Moose Wala, killing a gym owner in sophisticated South Delhi, and the recent killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique- all have one thing in common: Lawrence Bishnoi. Bishnoi is a prisoner in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail but manages a complex web of gang members through cell phones and virtual private networks.
Lawrence Bishnoi
Bishnoi is suspected of being involved in the high-profile murder of Baba Siddique, who was known to be a close friend of Salman Khan. This has raised concerns that he may bring back three decades of gang warfare and criminal activity from 1970s Mumbai, which are associated with infamous figures like Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, and Abu Salem.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s Punjab connection
The 31-year-old gangster is a son of a wealthy farmer from the Dhattaranwali village in the Ferzopur region of Punjab. He is a member of the Bishnoi community, which has settlers in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab.
After completing his 12th grade education, he moved to Chandigarh in 2010 to continue his college studies. After enrolling in DAV College, he was involved in student politics and served as president of the Panjab University Student Organization from 2011 to 2012.
April 2010 saw the filing of two formal police reports (FIRs) for invasion and attempted murder, which were the initial criminal allegations against him. A complaint of assault and cell phone robbery was filed against him in February 2011. All three instances were connected to do with student politics.
In 2012, Bishnoi had initially been imprisoned in Bathinda. Following charges under the strict Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), he was then transferred to Tihar.
In 2013, he killed a rival candidate in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections and the victorious candidate in the Muktsar Government College elections.
More than two dozen criminal cases, including extortion and the murder of political officials, have been associated with Bishnoi. In addition, his group engaged in the smuggling of weapons & alcohol and regularly provided protection to murderers. The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the state transported Bishnoi to Gujarat in relation to a cross-border smuggling case.
How Lawrence Bishnoi operates from jail
According to an article published by NEWS 18, Jaswinder Singh, often known as Rocky, was a criminal from Fazilka in Punjab who turned politician and joined Bishnoi’s group. Under the guise of student politics, he assisted Bishnoi in expanding his activities in cities like Bharatpur and Sri Ganganagar, which are situated on the border between Rajasthan and Punjab. Rocky was killed in Himachal Pradesh in May 2020 by Jaipal Bhullar, a member of a rival gang.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reports that the Bishnoi gang is known to employ over 700 shooters in five states and has connections abroad. Punjab is home to at least 300 of the gunmen.
Through social media, the gang recruit’s youth, frequently luring them in with the promise of emigration to Western nations like Canada.
According to the NIA, Bishnoi is operating from jail by using his powerful connections and allies, especially the pro-Khalistan organizations. He employs sophisticated communication techniques like VoIP and “Dabba Calling” to stay in touch with his assistants and purposefully stays away from bail applications.
Criminals, such as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, employ a technique known as “Dabba Calling” to make calls that are untraceable by avoiding ordinary mobile networks and law enforcement tracking.
High profile murder cases involving Bishnoi
Bishnoi became well-known when one of his team members, Sampath Nehra, conducted spying on actor Salman Khan’s Bandra home in 2018.
Bishnoi’s name reappeared in the shooting of Moose Wala in Mansa, Punjab in 2022. Operating from overseas, Goldy Brar took credit for the Punjabi singer’s murder, claiming that Bishnoi, who was in Tihar at the time, was involved in the plot.
Right-wing leader Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was shot and killed in his Jaipur residence in December of 2023. On social media, Bishnoi gang member Rohit Godara took credit for the murder.
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