Who Is Lawrence Bishnoi, Dreaded Gangster Behind Killings Of Baba Siddique, Sidhu Moosewala?

The Mumbai Police on Sunday confirmed the involvement of imprisoned gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique.

The former Maharashtra minister was shot dead by three assailants outside the office of his son, Bandra MLA Zeeshan Siddique, as he was getting into his car on Saturday night.

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This killing has once again brought Bishnoi's name into the spotlight. Born in 1993 in Punjab, Lawrence Bishnoi spent his early years in Abohar, but his life took a drastic turn in 2010 when he moved to Chandigarh to attend DAV College.

It was there that he met Goldy Brar, another individual whose name would later become notorious for criminal activities.

Bishnoi and Brar became involved in university politics and soon began committing crimes on campus. Bishnoi's criminal activities escalated quickly during his time at Panjab University between 2010 and 2012.

Several FIRs were filed against him for offences including attempted murder, assault, and robbery. Of the seven cases registered in Chandigarh, he was acquitted in four, while three are still pending.

His criminal involvement extended beyond university, and Bishnoi's influence grew both inside and outside the prison system. While in jail, he forged alliances with other criminals, expanding his network.

After his release, he developed connections with arms dealers and local criminals, increasing the number of individuals associated with his gang.

By 2013, Bishnoi had become a feared figure, linked to several murders, including the killing of a winning candidate in the Government College elections in Muktsar.

By 2013, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had branched out into the liquor trade and arms smuggling. He often harboured murderers within his gang, offering them protection and resources.

A major event in his life was an armed confrontation with the Rajasthan Police in 2014. Following his imprisonment, Bishnoi used his time behind bars to plan and strengthen his criminal network, which now reportedly includes over 700 shooters across the country.

While Bishnoi operated from prison, he became closely aligned with another notorious figure, Jaswinder Singh, also known as Rocky, a gangster-turned-politician.

Bishnoi and Rocky were active in Rajasthan's Bharatpur until Rocky was killed in 2016 by Jaipal Bhullar, who himself was later killed in a police encounter in 2020.

Alleged Khalistani Links

Even while incarcerated, Bishnoi's influence continued to grow. He allegedly ran his criminal syndicate from within Bharatpur jail, reportedly receiving assistance from prison staff.

In 2021, he was transferred to Tihar Jail in Delhi after being charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Authorities have since claimed that Bishnoi uses voice-over IP calls to communicate with his associates outside.

A report by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed that Bishnoi and Goldy Brar have ties with pro-Khalistan groups, raising concerns about their involvement in organised crime with political motivations.

Threats to Actor Salman Khan

In 2018, Bishnoi's criminal network gained further notoriety when one of his close associates, Sampath Nehra, conducted a reconnaissance of Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence.

Nehra claimed he had been tasked with assassinating Khan in connection with the actor's involvement in the Black Buck hunting case.

During a court appearance in Jodhpur, Bishnoi openly threatened the actor, saying, "Salman Khan will be killed here in Jodhpur."

On 14 April this year, Khan awoke to the sound of gunshots outside his Bandra residence, fired by two men on a motorcycle. The Mumbai Police later stated that the shooters had been hired by Bishnoi's gang.

Murder of Sidhu Moosewala

Bishnoi's name resurfaced in 2022 when Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was brutally murdered on 29 May in Mansa, Punjab.

Goldy Brar, operating from abroad, claimed responsibility for the killing, stating that it had been carried out in collaboration with Bishnoi, who was in Tihar Jail at the time.

After the murder, the Delhi Police Special Cell obtained custody of Bishnoi for further investigation.

Bishnoi, fearing for his safety, filed a plea with the Delhi High Court for protection but later withdrew it and moved his petition to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Assassination of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi

In December 2023, right-wing leader Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was shot dead in his Jaipur home. The murder, captured on video, showed three armed men sitting with Gogamedi before opening fire.

Gogamedi was shot at least five times, and one of his security guards was injured in the ensuing exchange of gunfire.

Rohit Godara, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the assassination in a Facebook post, further solidifying the gang's reputation for audacious killings.

Lawrence Bishnoi's life has been marked by his swift rise from a student involved in university politics to becoming one of India's most infamous gangsters.

With over two dozen criminal cases against him, including murder, extortion, and arms smuggling, his influence continues to spread, even from behind bars.