Lawrence Bishnoi
Lawrence Bishnoi | |
---|---|
Born | [1] | 12 February 1993
Alma mater | Panjab University (LL.B) |
Years active | 2010–present |
Known for | Assassination threat to Salman Khan Planned the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala[2] Murder of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi |
Criminal status | In custody at Tihar Jail |
Details | |
State(s) | Punjab Rajasthan Haryana |
Lawrence Bishnoi (born 12 February 1993) is an Indian gangster.[3] He has two dozen criminal cases against him including ones for murder and extortion. He has denied these allegations.[4][5] His gang is connected to over 700 shooters.[6][7]
Early life
Lawrence Bishnoi was born on 12 February 1993 in a village in Ferozpur, Punjab.[1][8] His father was a police constable for the Haryana Police. He left the police force in 1997 and became a farmer. Bishnoi studied in Abohar until the 12th grade and in 2010 he moved from Chandigarh to DAV College. He joined the Panjab University Campus Students Council in 2011, where he met Goldy Brar, another gangster. They became involved in university politics and began committing crimes.[1] He completed his LLB from Panjab University.[8]
Criminal activity
Bishnoi began his criminal activities in Chandigarh when several first information reports (FIRs) were registered against him between 2010 and 2012 for crimes including attempted murder, trespassing, assault, and robbery. All of these cases were related to his involvement in student politics. Out of the seven FIRs registered against him in Chandigarh, he was acquitted of four cases. The other three cases are still pending.
During his time in jail, Bishnoi built alliances with the other prisoners. After being released, he met with arms dealers and other local criminals. His gang increased in size throughout his time in Punjab University.[6]
After graduation in 2013, he allegedly gunned down the winning candidate of the Government College's student election in Muktsar and a rival candidate at the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation election.
Bishnoi had to often go into hiding. After 2013, he ventured into liquor dealing. He also sheltered murderers in his gang. In 2014, he had an armed encounter with the Rajasthan Police after which he was sent to jail where he plotted murders and witness executions.[6]
He befriended a gangster-turned-politician, Jaswinder Singh, alias "Rocky." Under Rocky, he remained active in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Rocky was assassinated in 2016 by Jaipal Bhullar, who himself was gunned down in 2020.[3]
Bishnoi continued to operate his syndicate while in Bharatpur jail allegedly by receiving help from jail staff. In 2021, he was transferred to Tihar Jail in Delhi regarding a case registered under the MCOCA. According to authorities, Bishnoi uses Voice over IP calls to communicate with his associates outside the jail.[6]
In August 2023, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad received custody of Bishnoi, citing a case of drug smuggling, and he was transferred to a high security ward in the Sabarmati jail.[9]
A National investigation agency (NIA) report revealed Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar's link to Pro-Khalistan outfits.[10]
The Bishnoi gang allegedly consists of 700 members across five states in India with a reach outside India as well.[7]
Salman Khan
In 2018, a close associate of Bishnoi, Sampath Nehra, who allegedly carried out an attack at Salman Khan's residence and disclosed that he was tasked with assassinating Salman Khan for his involvement in the Black Buck hunting case. According to the police, the Bishnoi gang considers the Black Buck species to be sacred.[3][6][7]
While being transported by police to appear in a Jodhpur court in Rajasthan for a case of extortion, Bishnoi stated that "Salman Khan will be killed here, in Jodhpur... Then he will come to know about our real identity... Now, if police want me to do some major crime, I shall kill Salman Khan and that too in Jodhpur." He claimed that he had been framed and the charges were fake.[11][12]
In November 2023, Bishnoi claimed responsibility for a shooting at actor-singer Gippy Grewal's home over his alleged association with Khan; Grewal denied any friendship with Khan.[13][14]
Assassination of Sidhu Moose Wala
On 29 May 2022, Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead in Mansa, Punjab.[15] Hours after the assassination, responsibility for the shooting was claimed by Goldy Brar, who claimed that he had engineered the plot with Bishnoi. Police suggested that Bishnoi's gang was involved in the shooting. At the time of the shooting, Bishnoi was in custody at Tihar Jail.[16][5] Delhi Police Special Cell obtained a 5 day custody of Bishnoi for investigation.[17]
Soon after Moose Wala's assassination, Bishnoi entered a plea in the Delhi High Court stating that he was afraid for his life and feared a fake encounter by the Punjab police. He said that the Delhi Police and the Tihar Jail authority must ensure his safety and that he must be properly handcuffed and shackled. He later withdrew that plea from the Delhi HC along with his petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.[18][19]
Killing of Sukhdool Singh
On 21 September 2023, Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the killing of Khalistani separatist Sukhdool Singh Gill aka Sukha Duneke.[20][21]
Assassination of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi
On 5 December 2023, President of Karni Sena Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was shot dead in Jaipur. Hours after the assassination, responsibility for the shooting was claimed by Rohit Godara, a member of the Bishnoi gang.[22][23][24]
Killing of Baba Siddique
Bishnoi gang claimed to be behind the assassination of Baba Siddique on 12 October 2024 because of his connection with Salman Khan.[25] Mumbai Police filed applications to obtain Bishnoi in their custody, but custody was denied due to a Home ministry's order under Section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.[26]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, whose gang shot Sidhu Moose Wala". India Today. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Lawrence Bishnoi admits he planned Moose Wala killing, but doesn't know shooters | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Who is Lawrence Bishnoi whose gang claimed to have killed Sidhu Moose Wala". The Indian Express. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Notorious gangster threatens to kill Salman Khan". The Asian Post. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Lawrence Bishnoi, being investigated in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder, threatened Salman Khan's life in 2018: 'Jodhpur mein hi maarenge…'". The Indian Express. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Anand, Jatin; Sur, Arnabjit (2 June 2022). "How Lawrence Bishnoi fell on the wrong side of the law". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Ojha, Arvind (31 May 2022). "'Will kill Salman Khan in Jodhpur': Watch Lawrence Bishnoi's threat to Bollywood star in 2018 | Video". India Today. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ a b Chandigar, Arvind Ojha (30 May 2022). "Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, whose gang shot Sidhu Moose Wala". India Today. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi Sent To High-Security Gujarat Jail In Drugs Case". NDTV. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "NIA files chargesheet against Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar on terror nexus case". Hindustan Times. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Salman Khan Gets Death Threat From Gangster". NDTV.com. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Salman Khan issued death threats by Rajasthan-based gangster; linked to black buck case?". Firstpost. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ Desk, Wb. ""Salman Khan is not my friend"". ARY News. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ Richter, Brent. "Bollywood actor's home reportedly targeted in West Vancouver shooting". North Shore News. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Days after his security trimmed, Congress leader Moosewala shot dead in Punjab". The Indian Express. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Five things to know about Goldy Brar, who claimed responsibility for Sidhu Moosewala's death". The Indian Express. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ Haider, Tanseem; Ojha, Arvind (31 May 2022). "Delhi Police Special Cell gets 5-day custody of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Sidhu Moose Wala murder case". India Today. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ "Lawrence Bishnoi moves Punjab and Haryana High Court after withdrawing plea from Delhi High Court". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ "Sidhu Moose Wala murder: Lawrence Bishnoi takes back Delhi HC plea, will move Punjab high court". Hindustan Times. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ "Two rival Punjabi gangsters claim responsibility for Sukhdev Singh's death in Canada". The Indian Express. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for Khalistani freedom fighter Sukhdev Singh's killing in Canada". Mint. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi shot dead in Jaipur". The Times of India. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Karni Sena chief murder: Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims attack, protests in Jaipur". India Today. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "'Rajasthan bandh' called today over Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Gogamedi's murder". mint. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Baba Siddique murder: Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, jailed gangster said to be involved in NCP leader's killing?". Financialexpress. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "This Order Is Stopping Mumbai Police From Taking Lawrence Bishnoi's Custody". NDTV.com. Retrieved 15 October 2024.