In the wake of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui's assassination, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang seized the spotlight. Siddiqui, known for his close friendship with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, had been under the gang's radar for the past six years. The Bishnoi gang's growing notoriety is drawing parallels with the infamous 'D Company'. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) acknowledged that Lawrence, much like Dawood Ibrahim’s ‘D Company’, has cultivated a widespread network. This group is active in and around Delhi. Following two decades of relative calm in Mumbai, the surfacing of this new gang has sparked tension among governmental and administrative bodies.
Once, the gang led by Haji Mastan controlled the reins in Mumbai. Recognized as the city's first underworld don, his influence spanned between 1950 and 1970. Following Mastan, Karim Lala laid the groundwork for the underworld's expansion. Esteemed dons like Dawood Ibrahim emerged from Haji Mastan's shadow, instilling fear across Mumbai. Now, the entry of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang disrupts the peace that had reigned over Mumbai.
Haji Mastan
Haji Mastan was once known as the king of smuggling, reigning supreme in Mumbai between the 1950s and 70s. Born in Tamil Nadu, Mastan arrived in Mumbai at the tender age of eight, setting up a bicycle repair shop before working as a porter on the docks. An avid film enthusiast during his early years, he gradually delved into the smuggling business. It was through trafficking in gold, electronics, and other pricey imported goods that he cemented his stature.
Haji Mastan built his empire not merely through illicit dealings but also via his charismatic persona, ties with the film industry, and simple lifestyle. During his time, he was among the richest and most powerful smugglers around, gradually gaining sway in political realms.
Karim Lala
Karim Lala, whose real name was Abdul Karim Sher Khan, hailed from Afghanistan's Pashtun community, eventually making his mark on Mumbai's criminal world. Over nearly 30 years, Lala stood at the pinnacle of the underworld's hierarchy. A dive into the world of crime began with a menial job, but he quickly became ensconced in running gambling dens, operating illegal money transfer businesses, and extorting protection money. Engaging in smuggling, liquor trading, and illicit financial dealings, he expanded his criminal activities. In the end, his whole gang perished in gang wars with the Dawood syndicate.
Dawood Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim's name resonates as one of the most substantial in the annals of the underworld. His empire stretched from Mumbai to Dubai and across various global locales. His initiation into organized crime began with theft and smuggling in the 70s. Quickly, he rose to become the foremost organized crime boss. Initially part of Karim Lala's group, he later forged his network. By the 1980s, his gang, branded as 'D Company', was deeply enmeshed in major criminal activities including extortion, smuggling, and property deals. Subsequently, the gang infiltrated the Hindi film industry.
Source: aajtak
The gang's influence over Bollywood grew vast. The 1993 serial bomb blasts, which claimed hundreds of lives, had Dawood's name attached to them. Following those events, he evaded law enforcement by fleeing to Dubai. His absence paved the way for law enforcement to cleanse Mumbai.
Supercop Shivanandan’s Campaign Against the Underworld
Playing a pivotal role in this cleanup were dynamic police officials like D. Shivanandan. He was designated as Mumbai's Joint CP (Crime) in 1998, tasked with addressing underworld and gang violence. Dubbed a 'super cop', Shivanandan initiated sweeping operations, leading to numerous encounters and arrests of over 1600 criminals. It was his efforts that paved the way for anti-organized crime laws like MCOCA in Maharashtra.
Source: aajtak
With Dawood’s gang members fleeing abroad, Mumbai gradually regained its peace. However, new criminal syndicates emerged in the adjacent territories of Delhi and Northern India. Names like Surajbhan alias ‘Thakuria’, Kuldeep Fajja, Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Sandeep alias ‘Kala Jathedi’, Ashok Pradhan, Manoj Baba, Sushant Gurjar, Anil Dujana, Sunil Rathi, and Anandpal Singh surfaced and spread a reign of terror across North India.
The Bishnoi Gang’s Entry Breaks Two Decades of Silence in Mumbai
After breaking free from the clutches of organized crime, Mumbai, the nation's economic capital, enjoyed two decades of tranquility. Determined political will and active law enforcement rooted out numerous gangs. While some criminals settled abroad in locales like Dubai, others were flushed out. Dawood Ibrahim, even while operating his D Company from Dubai, saw his influence cut down over time. Now, however, the Bishnoi gang has made its entry to Mumbai.
Having instilled fear across North India, in Delhi, NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab, the Bishnoi gang has reignited the terror reminiscent of the 80s-90s underworld heydays by committing the audacious assassination of Baba Siddiqui. At that time, figures like Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel, Abu Salem, and Chhota Rajan ran their gangs ruthlessly. Local groups like Arun Gawli, Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Sameer Thakkar, Ravi Pujari, and Matya Gang were also active.
The Chilling Murder of Gulshan Kumar Shakes Mumbai...
On August 12, 1997, outside Jiteshwar Mahadev Temple in Andheri West, Mumbai, T-Series music company's founder, Gulshan Kumar, was gunned down by a trio of gunmen. A shocking 16 bullets claimed his life on the spot, leaving the attackers to escape. This heinous murder spurred panic across the film industry and the nation. The underworld's reign of terror was at its peak in Mumbai.
Fast forward 27 years to October 12, 2024. Exiting his office in Bandra, Mumbai, NCP leader Baba Siddiqui faced a deadly assault at the hands of three gunmen. Despite possessing security, the daring attack was shocking. With bullets penetrating his abdomen and chest, he was swiftly rushed to a hospital, only to succumb to his injuries. This assassination left the public reeling in horror.
The two incidents, though decades apart, share a striking modus operandi — matching dates and cities, along with a similar mode of execution. Both involved a trio of shooters; Gulshan Kumar received 16 bullets, while Baba Siddiqui suffered six. Yet, no direct connection existed between the masterminds orchestrating these events. Masterminds would hire handlers to distribute hit contracts among shooters, who would effortlessly accomplish their tasks.
Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was believed to be the orchestrator behind Gulshan Kumar’s murder, executed from his haven in Dubai. In contrast, the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for Baba Siddiqui's murder. It also carried out high-profile killings, including those of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and Karni Sena president Sukhdev Singh Gogameri, not to mention firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s residence.
Source: aajtak
The Lawrence Bishnoi Gang: Infamy Across India
Today, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is infamous across India. Despite being incarcerated, ganglord Bishnoi runs his operations seamlessly. His aides, Goldy Brar, Sampat Nehra, Anmol Bishnoi, and Rohit Godara execute their criminal endeavors from Canada, encapsulating extortion, murder contracts, targeted killings, drug trafficking, and ransom schemes. Their links to anti-national Khalistani terrorists and their organizations are well-documented.
Presently lodged in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail, Lawrence Bishnoi directs hits through his brother Anmol Bishnoi and ally Goldy Brar in Canada. Connecting with shooters through Facebook, they lure individuals with promises of money to carry out shootings. Over a thousand individuals are currently believed to be operating under the Bishnoi gang's wing. The network Bishnoi established is so robust that his incarceration barely hinders operations.
Source: aajtak
Running the gang effortlessly from jail, he continues to financially benefit from hit contracts and extortion while confined. During interrogations, the NIA learned of Bishnoi's operational modus operandi. His past incarcerations in Delhi's Tihar Jail, Bharatpur and Faridkot Jails saw him extorting crores from North Indian businessmen. His aides sourced contact numbers for him within the prison walls.
Tech-savvy by nature, Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang expertly utilize technology. Through mobile devices, they maintain communication. Delhi Police officials note these gangsters rely on social media platforms like Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram to dispatch messages to their cohorts. For monetary exchanges, apps such as Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay are their preferred mediums.
Social Apps and Minor Boys: Lethal Components in Crimes
Most gangs now recruit minors to execute crimes. These young recruits come with no prior criminal records, enabling easy escape post-crime execution. Moreover, if caught, they're sent to juvenile homes, often released when they come of age. Contracts are handed out through apps, ensuring captured individuals can't divulge information, thereby minimizing risk. Young perpetrators often turn to crime for expensive hobbies, making them easy prey for gang recruiting.
The Bishnoi gang's organized and effective modus operandi includes targeted killings, social media utilization, secure communications, and an intricate interstate network. Even from jail, Lawrence relies on Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) for secure communication, posing a formidable challenge to trailing agencies. His gang represents a major threat across India, presenting complex challenges to security agencies.
Lawrence Bishnoi's Right and Left Hands: Goldy and Rohit
Regarded as Bishnoi's ‘right and left hands’, Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara orchestrate a substantial portion of the criminal activities. Satinder Singh, alias Goldy Brar, hailing from Punjab’s Sri Muktsar Sahib, fled to Canada in 2021. A notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs linked him with the terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International. Investigative agencies last traced him to America, where he stayed under an alias.
Rohit Godara from Rajasthan's Bikaner ventured into crime in 2010, acquiring over 32 registered criminal cases. Last year, Godara allegedly plotted to murder Karni Sena leader Sukhdev Singh Gogameri in Rajasthan. Observed moving between Portugal and Azerbaijan, he used the ‘donkey route’ to flee to America in 2022. Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against him in December last year.
Source: aajtak
Key Gangs Operative from Northern India Prisons...
1. Sandeep Alias Kala Jathedi Gang
The infamous Sandeep Kala gained notoriety following the Sagar Dhankar murder case in Delhi. Operating the Kala Jathedi gang, Sandeep, originally from Haryana's Sonipat, boasts a lengthy criminal history. Before his 2021 arrest, Sandeep was orchestrating his gang from Dubai and Malaysia. Today, he continues to dictate violent operations from within jail. First ticketed for mobile theft in 2004, he now carries over 200 cases. These range from theft, dacoity, and murder to extortion. The gang has firmly embedded itself in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra. The Kala Jathedi and Lawrence Bishnoi tandem is infamous in the criminal world, having executed many crimes together. Both currently command their gangs from prison.
2. Neeraj Bawana Gang
Neeraj Bawana, whose real name is Neeraj Sehrawat, hails from Delhi’s Bawana village, lending him his surname. He is known within criminal circles by this name. Facing charges ranging from murder and robbery to threats to life, Neeraj remains incarcerated in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Operating from there, he has coordinated several crimes, demonstrating a fearless attitude among his goons who don't hesitate to spill blood. Predominantly, Neeraj’s activities are central to Delhi-NCR. Once close with Surendra Malik, alias Neetu Daboda, he was also a suspect in the wrestler Sagar Dhankar murder case.
3. Jitender Mann Alias Gogi Gang
Jitender Mann alias Gogi gained notoriety when, from Tihar Jail, he attempted to extort INR 5 crore from a Dubai-based businessman. In 2021, two shooters under Tillu Tajpuria gunned him down in Rohini Court. Tillu sought revenge for his aide Pawan's murder. Gogi and Tillu's rivalry stemmed back to college when both participated in student union elections, leading to a brawl. Gogi, originating from Ali Pur, Delhi, escaped custody three times. Having committed the majority of his crimes in Delhi and Haryana, Delhi Police placed a four lakh bounty, and Haryana Police a two lakh bounty on him. After his death, Deepak Teeter and Dinesh Karala operate the gang from jail.
4. Hashim Baba Gang
Hashim Baba, originally Asim, launched a gambling syndicate in East Delhi, resembling Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt with long hair and dramatic photos. Inspired by dons like Abu Salem and Dawood Ibrahim, he entered the Nasir gang to extort businessmen. After Nasir's imprisonment, Hashim vyed for gang control. Their rivalry escalated into a gang war, drawing in over 50 police teams to arrest Hashim in a dramatic encounter. Known for safe hideouts in Muslim-majority areas.
