700 shooters, global network, and high-profile hits: How Lawrence Bishnoi runs his gang from jail

New Delhi: In 2022, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi gained international attention following the murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, shot in broad daylight in Punjab’s Mansa district.

Now, the Bishnoi gang is back in the spotlight with the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui, for which Bishnoi’s gang has again claimed responsibility.

Bishnoi, currently imprisoned, reportedly orchestrated Siddiqui’s murder from behind bars, highlighting his gang’s vast reach and operational capabilities within the criminal world.

His influence spans multiple Indian states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh, and extends internationally, particularly to Canada, where his associate Goldie Brar is based. Despite his imprisonment, Bishnoi continues to manage his criminal network.

Born in 1993 in Dhattaranwali village, Punjab, Bishnoi was initially on a different path. His father, a constable in the Haryana Police, had no ties to crime, but Bishnoi’s ambitions drew him towards organized crime during his time at Panjab University, where he met Goldy Brar, a future key figure in his operations.

Lawrence Bishnoi’s criminal network continues to thrive, despite his imprisonment in high-security jails like Gujarat’s Sabarmati and Delhi’s Tihar. Known for using mobile phones, often equipped with VPN networks to conceal locations, Bishnoi reportedly communicates with his associates both in India and abroad using encrypted apps like Signal and Telegram.

Earlier this year, a viral video on social media allegedly showed Bishnoi interacting with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti.

Bishnoi’s influence extends internationally, particularly to North America, where he is in regular contact with his brother Anmol, along with key associates Goldie Brar and Rohit Godara.

The gang maintains ties with Khalistani militants and separatist groups based in North America. In India, the Bishnoi gang boasts a network of around 700 shooters, who are often hired through local criminal groups to carry out contract killings.

The gang is organized into various divisions, with members responsible for logistics such as food, legal aid, and intelligence gathering. In recent years, its criminal activities have escalated, including extortion of Punjabi singers and liquor mafias, along with high-profile murders.

One of the most infamous plots linked to the gang is the conspiracy to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan, allegedly in retaliation for his involvement in the illegal hunting of blackbucks, an animal sacred to the Bishnoi community.

On April 14, two men on motorcycles fired shots outside Khan’s Mumbai residence, resulting in multiple arrests. According to the chargesheet, the Bishnoi gang had placed a Rs 25 lakh contract on Khan’s life and planned to acquire advanced weapons from Pakistan, including AK-47s, M16 rifles, and Turkish-made pistols.

Other key figures in the network include gangster Sandeep alias Kala Jatheri, who was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2021 under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

The Bishnoi gang’s reach and ruthlessness have made it one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the region.