Baba Siddiqui, a significant figure in Maharashtra politics, was shot dead on October 12th. His influence wasn't limited to politics; he had ties with the film industry too. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for his assassination.
Currently, Lawrence Bishnoi is imprisoned in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail. Regarding Siddiqui's murder, the police have identified six suspects, three of whom have already been apprehended, while the search for the others continues.
Lawrence Bishnoi has emerged as a notorious name in the world of crime, becoming involved in several high-profile murders over recent years. Shockingly, these conspiracies were orchestrated from within jail. Shooters were hired for contract killings, demonstrating the reach of this criminal network. The planning of Baba Siddiqui's murder also occurred in Patiala Jail, where Bishnoi's aides tasked Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar with the execution. Zeeshan Akhtar had just been released from prison in June.
Born in the village of Dutarowali in Punjab’s Fazilka district, Lawrence Bishnoi has risen to become one of the country's formidable gangsters. Comparisons to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim have arisen, with NIA chargesheets indicating that Bishnoi's syndicate spread similarly to Dawood's network in the 90s. Like Dawood, Bishnoi began with minor offenses before escalating to the criminal underworld.
From Student Politics to Crime World
The Internet chronicles Lawrence Bishnoi's life, noting his birth on February 12, 1993. His father served as a Haryana police constable, retiring early to pursue farming.
Lawrence Bishnoi's real name is Satwinder Singh. Wishing to see him move beyond the village, his parents enrolled him at DAV School in Chandigarh. Lawrence had a penchant for athletics, which led him to Punjab University. In 2007, he joined this university to study law.
According to The Hindu, in the 2008 Punjab University student union elections, Lawrence's friend Robin Barad contested. Attempting to intimidate opponents, Lawrence used a licensed revolver, resulting in an attempted murder case against him and his friends. This incident led to Lawrence spending two months in jail during which Robin lost the election. Upon release, Lawrence attacked the brother of the winning candidate, leading to another attempted murder charge. His jail stint introduced him to several criminals, marking his entry into the world of crime.
Source: aajtak
First Murder
Released from jail, Lawrence became active in student politics. In 2010, he ran for college president but lost. Seeking retribution, Lawrence and his friends broke the limbs of the victorious candidate, resulting in another jail sentence.
Upon bail, Lawrence focused on student politics, winning the presidency in 2011. During college, he befriended Goldy Barad, another name on the NIA's wanted list.
Even after graduating in 2012, Lawrence maintained his stronghold over student politics. His gang expanded, often fielding candidates in college and university elections.
Reports indicate that in 2013, after losing the election in Muktsar's Government College, Lawrence had the victorious candidate killed. Similarly, in Ludhiana municipal elections, he shot the contender opposing his friend's cousin, resulting in yet another murder.
Crime Empire's Expansion
Post the 2013 murder during the Ludhiana municipal council elections, Lawrence hid for an extended period in Jaipur with a friend, dabbling in the liquor business.
The Hindu describes Lawrence's criminal dossier, highlighting his investment in a Haryana liquor enterprise. Months later, Lawrence's cousin Amandeep was murdered by a group of four. Amandeep was also involved in the liquor business where Lawrence had invested. Allegedly, Lawrence tracked down those involved in Amandeep's murder for two years, compiling a hit list.
He was arrested in 2014 in Gurgaon. During a court hearing that year, he escaped police custody but was rearrested in 2016.
Though incarcerated, Lawrence's crime empire expanded. His younger brother Anmol Bishnoi now manages the gang, enhancing its influence in Rajasthan. Notably, in April, a shooting occurred at Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence, claimed by Anmol Bishnoi.
Source: aajtak
Is Bishnoi Gang Operating from Jail?
Since 2016, Lawrence Bishnoi has been behind bars, yet his gang flourishes. His operational methods are unique. From jail, he recruits criminals into his gang, who then execute his plans upon release.
Bishnoi has cultivated a gang while incarcerated. Once released, these members collaborate with arms dealers and local mafias, perpetuating crimes.
Notably, multiple reports suggest that from jail, Lawrence uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) for communication, which is challenging to trace.
Where Has the Bishnoi Gang Spread?
Goldy Barad, positioned in Canada, manages much of Lawrence Bishnoi's gang activities. He remains a wanted criminal.
According to an NIA chargesheet, the Bishnoi gang comprises over 700 shooters, with 300 situated in Punjab alone. Originally limited to Punjab, the gang's influence, abetted by Goldy Barad, now spans multiple northern Indian states.
Bishnoi's gang members are spread across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and other northern Indian regions. The gang utilizes social media to recruit youth, sharing photos and videos. Images of Bishnoi being transported to and from court are frequently posted.
By June 2022, a criminal dossier revealed that Bishnoi faced 36 criminal cases over 12 years in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi. Of these, 21 are ongoing, while Bishnoi has been acquitted in nine. He has been convicted in six cases.
Now a Don Like Dawood!
Lawrence Bishnoi is increasingly compared to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. An NIA chargesheet last year noted that the Bishnoi gang operates similarly to Dawood's operations in the 90s.
Bishnoi and his gang issue public threats. In one instance, a gang member wrote on social media, warning those aiding Salman Khan or Dawood's gang to beware.
Lawrence Bishnoi is also accused in the May 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. In 2021, Bishnoi was transferred from Rajasthan jail to Delhi's Tihar Jail before being moved to Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail in August 2023.
