How Lawrence Bishnoi Continues To Operate From Jail? Everything You Need To Know About The Gangster

In August 2023, Lawrence Bishnoi was moved from Delhi’s Tihar Jail to Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad in connection with a drug smuggling case. (News18/File Photo)

Death threats to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, Sidhu Moose Wala’s brutal murder, a gym owner shot dead in posh South Delhi, and now NCP leader Baba Siddique’s killing — all have one name in common: Lawrence Bishnoi, a man lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail but operating an intricate network of gang members via mobile phones and VPN connections.

With Bishnoi’s alleged involvement in the high-profile murder of Baba Siddique, known to be a close friend of Salman Khan, there is now fear that he could revive three decades’ worth of gang wars and underworld activity from 1970s Mumbai — linked to notorious names like Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and Abu Salem.

The alleged gangster is charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). But, how is he running his gang from behind bars? How did he become what he is today? What are the high-profile cases linked to him? Let’s take a deep dive.

Who is Lawrence Bishnoi and Charges Against Him?

The 31-year-old gangster is a son of an affluent agriculturist from the Dhattaranwali village in Punjab’s Ferzopur district. He belongs to the Bishnoi community whose members are settled in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

He studied till Class 12 and later shifted to Chandigarh in 2010 to pursue a college education. Following enrollment in DAV College, he joined student politics and became president of the Student Organisation of Panjab University between 2011 and 2012.

The first criminal charges against him were framed in April 2010 for attempt to murder, followed by another FIR for trespass in April 2010. In February 2011, a case of assault and robbery of a cell phone was registered against him. All three cases were related to student politics.

Bishnoi was jailed for the first time in Bathinda in 2012, and then shifted to Tihar after being charged with the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

In 2013, he shot dead the winning candidate of the Government College elections in Muktsar and a rival candidate in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections.

Bishnoi has been linked to multiple criminal cases, with over two dozen registered against him, including murders of political leaders and extortion. His gang also ventured into liquor dealing and arms smuggling, often providing protection to murderers. Bishnoi was taken to Gujarat by the state’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in connection with a case of cross-border smuggling.

Who are Bishnoi’s Gang Members and Key Associates?

Jaswinder Singh alias Rocky, a gangster-turned-politician from Punjab’s Fazilka, joined Bishnoi’s gang. He helped Bishnoi expand his operations in in cities like Sri Ganganagar located on the Rajasthan-Punjab border, as well as Bharatpur, under the garb of student politics. Rocky was assassinated in May 2020 in Himachal Pradesh by rival gang member, Jaipal Bhullar.

The Bishnoi gang is known to operate with over 700 shooters across five states, with international connections as well, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). At least 300 shooters are from Punjab.

The gang recruits young individuals, often enticing them with a promise of emigration to Western countries, such as Canada, through social media. The gang’s outreach efforts are complemented by alliances with external elements, including Khalistani terrorists like Harvinder Singh Rinda, who reportedly leverage Bishnoi’s shooters for targeted killings in Punjab.

Bishnoi has been associated with gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and was friends with Sampat Nehra and Haryana gangster Kala Jathedi. His close associates include Goldie Brar, who manages ground-level activities and communication with shooters, and brother Anmol Bishnoi, who was involved in the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala.

What are His Operations?

As per the NIA, Bishnoi is using his strong alliances and connections, including the pro-Khalistan groups to continue operations from jail. He strategically avoids bail applications and uses advanced communication methods like VoIP and ‘Dabba Calling’ to stay in touch with his aides.

“Dabba Calling” is a method used by criminals, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, to make untraceable calls by routing them through illegal exchanges, bypassing regular mobile networks and law enforcement tracking.

Bishnoi gained notoriety in 2018 when one of his associates, Sampath Nehra, conducted reconnaissance of actor Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra in Mumbai. Nehra said he was tasked with assassinating Khan due to the actor’s involvement in the Black Buck hunting case.

In 2022, Bishnoi’s name resurfaced in the shooting of Moose Wala in Mansa, Punjab. Goldy Brar, operating from abroad, claimed responsibility for the killing of the Punjabi singer, stating it was carried out in collaboration with Bishnoi, who was in Tihar at that time.

In December 2023, a right-wing leader, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was shot dead in his Jaipur home. The incident was capture on video with armed men having tea with Gogamedi before firing at him. Rohit Godara, a member of Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the killing on social media.

Lawrence Bishnoi’s Feud with Salman Khan

Actor Salman Khan was accused of hunting and killing two blackbucks in Rajasthan during the shoot of his film – ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’ – in 1998. He was sentenced to five years in jail but was later granted bail. Blackbucks are considered holy by the Bishnoi community, to which Bishnoi belongs.

In his interview from Tihar Jail in 2023, Bishnoi had stated on camera that his only purpose in life is to kill Salman Khan. “We don’t want money. We just want him to visit our community temple and apologise to us. He humiliated my entire community by poaching a blackbuck. There is even a case against him but he has just refused to apologise,” Bishnoi had said in the interview.

Last year in November, Bishnoi had posted a message on Facebook addressing Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal, which read, “You consider Salman Khan a brother, but now it’s time for your ‘brother’ to come and save you. This message is also for Salman Khan – don’t be in the illusion that Dawood will save you; no one can save you. Your dramatic response to Sidhu Moose Wala’s death did not go unnoticed. We all know the kind of person he was and the criminal associations he had… You’ve now landed on our radar. Consider this a trailer; the full film will be released soon. Flee to any country you wish, but remember, death doesn’t require a visa; it comes uninvited.”

Source: https://www.news18.com/explainers/how-lawrence-bishnoi-continues-to-operate-from-jail-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-gangster-9085584.html