The murder of Baba Siddique in Mumbai has cast a spotlight on the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a criminal organization with a growing reputation for high-profile crimes. Mumbai police have confirmed that the three shooters involved in Siddique’s killing on Friday night were linked to the gang of Lawrence Bishnoi, currently incarcerated in Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat. This incident is just the latest in a string of high-profile cases linked to the Bishnoi gang, which has gained notoriety for its audacious actions.
The gang’s reach extends far beyond India’s borders, as evidenced by the 2023 shooting at the house of Punjabi singer AP Dhillon in Vancouver, Canada, for which a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Rohit Godara, claimed responsibility. This incident followed the shooting at Punjabi actor and singer Gippy Grewal’s house in Vancouver in November 2023, which Lawrence Bishnoi claimed responsibility for.
But who is Lawrence Bishnoi and how did this gang come to be involved in such a wide range of crimes?
Lawrence Bishnoi, 31, hails from the Dhattaranwali village in Punjab’s Ferozepur district. After completing his 12th grade, he moved to Chandigarh in 2010 to pursue higher education. At DAV College, he joined student politics and became president of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) between 2011 and 2012. His entry into the world of crime began with an attempt to murder case filed against him in 2010, followed by a trespass charge. In 2011, he was accused of assault and robbery of a cell phone. Over time, Bishnoi amassed a string of charges including murder, robbery, extortion, and others, mostly registered in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Chandigarh.
The Bishnoi gang, under Lawrence Bishnoi’s leadership, has gained notoriety for its involvement in some of India’s most high-profile crimes, including:
Sidhu Moosewala Murder (May 2022):
Popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead in May 2022. Lawrence Bishnoi was alleged to be the mastermind behind the murder. The murder was reportedly carried out in retaliation for the murder of another gang member, Vicky Middukhera.Firing outside Salman Khan’s House (April 2024):
Two men on a bike opened fire outside Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra in April 2024. The Mumbai Police claimed that the shooters were hired by Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang, who had allegedly conspired to kill the actor. Bishnoi had openly threatened Khan in connection with the blackbuck poaching case, which led to a conviction for Khan in 2018. The Bishnoi community considers the blackbuck sacred, and Bishnoi had allegedly planned to harm Khan in retaliation for the 1998 poaching case.Sukha Duneke Murder (September 2023):
Gangster Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke of the infamous Davinder Bambiha gang was shot dead by unknown men in Canada’s Winnipeg in September 2023. A gang member of Lawrence Bishnoi took responsibility for the murder.Despite his current imprisonment, Lawrence Bishnoi continues to manage his criminal operations through his associates. The gang’s activities have placed them under the scrutiny of law enforcement agencies, leading to the arrest of several members, including Lawrence Bishnoi himself. However, the gang’s influence and reach continue to pose a significant challenge to authorities, highlighting the enduring threat posed by organized crime in India and beyond.