Lawrence Bishnoi

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 affiliated with over 700 shooters across the country.[6][7] He is in custody in Tihar Jail.

Lawrence Bishnoi
Born (1993-02-12) 12 February 1993[1]
Ferozpur, Punjab, India
Alma materPanjab University (LL.B)
Years active2010–present
Known forAssassination threat to Salman Khan
Planned the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala[2] Murder of Sukhdool Singh
Criminal statusIn custody in Tihar Jail
Details
State(s)Punjab
Rajasthan
Haryana

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 in 2010 when he moved to 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 for crimes including an attempt to murder, trespassing, assault, and robbery between 2010 and 2012. 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 in four and three cases are still pending. During his time in jail, Bishnoi built alliances with criminals behind bars. After being released, he met with arms dealers and other local criminals. His gang increased in size throughout his education in Punjab University.[6]

After graduation in 2013, he allegedly gunned down the winning candidate of elections of the Government College in Muktsar and a rival candidate at the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections. 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]

Salman Khan

In 2018, a close associate of Bishnoi, Sampath Nehra, who allegedly carried out a recce of Salman Khan's residence, disclosed that he was tasked with assassinating Salman Khan for his involvement in the Black Buck hunting case. According to the police, the Bishnoi community 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 for fake charges.[9][10]

He 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]

Assassination of Sidhu Moose Wala

On 29 May 2022, Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead in Mansa, Punjab.[11] 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, he was in Tihar Jail.[12][5] Delhi Police Special Cell obtained a 5 day custody of Bishnoi for investigation.[13]

Soon after Moose Wala's assassination, Bishnoi moved 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. He later moved his petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.[14][15]

The Bishnoi gang is allegedly working with 700 shooters across 5 states in India with a reach outside India as well.[7]

Killing of Sukhdool Singh

On 21 September 2023, Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the killing of gangster and Khalistani separatist Sukhdool Singh.[16][17]

References
  1. "Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, whose gang shot Sidhu Moose Wala".
  2. "Lawrence Bishnoi admits he planned Moose Wala killing, but doesn't know shooters | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  3. "Who is Lawrence Bishnoi whose gang claimed to have killed Sidhu Moose Wala". The Indian Express. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  4. "Notorious gangster threatens to kill Salman Khan". The Asian Post. 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  5. "Lawrence Bishnoi, being investigated in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder, threatened Salman Khan's life in 2018: 'Jodhpur mein hi maarenge…'". The Indian Express. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  6. Anand, Jatin; Sur, Arnabjit (2022-06-02). "How Lawrence Bishnoi fell on the wrong side of the law". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  7. Ojha, Arvind (May 31, 2022). "'Will kill Salman Khan in Jodhpur': Watch Lawrence Bishnoi's threat to Bollywood star in 2018 | Video". India Today. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  8. Chandigar, Arvind Ojha (May 30, 2022). "Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, whose gang shot Sidhu Moose Wala". India Today. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  9. "Salman Khan Gets Death Threat From Gangster". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  10. "Salman Khan issued death threats by Rajasthan-based gangster; linked to black buck case?". Firstpost. 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  11. "Days after his security trimmed, Congress leader Moosewala shot dead in Punjab". The Indian Express. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  12. "Five things to know about Goldy Brar, who claimed responsibility for Sidhu Moosewala's death". The Indian Express. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  13. Haider, Tanseem; Ojha, Arvind (May 31, 2022). "Delhi Police Special Cell gets 5-day custody of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Sidhu Moose Wala murder case". India Today. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  14. "Lawrence Bishnoi moves Punjab and Haryana High Court after withdrawing plea from Delhi High Court". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  15. "Sidhu Moose Wala murder: Lawrence Bishnoi takes back Delhi HC plea, will move Punjab high court". Hindustan Times. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  16. "Two rival Punjabi gangsters claim responsibility for Sukhdool Singh's death in Canada". The Indian Express. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  17. "Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for Khalistani freedom fighter Sukhdool Singh's killing in Canada". Mint. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
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