The brutal murder of senior politician Baba Siddique on Saturday has brought Lawrence Bishnoi, the notorious Punjab-based gangster, back into the spotlight. Siddique, a prominent figure with strong political ties, was gunned down in broad daylight in Mumbai’s Bandra East by three assailants, sparking outrage and renewed scrutiny on Bishnoi’s growing influence in the criminal underworld. The Mumbai Police have identified members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as being involved in the murder, further intensifying investigations into the case.
A chilling twist surfaced on Sunday when a member of Bishnoi’s gang, Shubbu alias Shubham Lonkar, claimed responsibility for orchestrating Siddique’s assassination. According to Lonkar, the murder was allegedly motivated by Siddique’s close ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan. This connection has turned the murder case into a high-profile incident, as Bishnoi’s gang has had a longstanding enmity with the actor, primarily over the blackbuck poaching case. While the police have confirmed the gang’s involvement, they are now piecing together the exact circumstances leading to Siddique’s death, exploring the motive beyond personal vendetta and examining whether this was part of a larger strategy by the Bishnoi gang to assert dominance.
How Did Lawrence Bishnoi Enter the World of Crime?
Lawrence Bishnoi, a name that resonates across the Indian crime world, has over three dozen cases against him, ranging from murder to extortion. Despite being incarcerated in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central Jail, the 31-year-old gangster continues to operate his criminal empire from behind bars. His rise in the criminal world started in 2013, but his notoriety skyrocketed in 2018 when he publicly threatened Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who had been embroiled in a legal battle over the killing of a blackbuck—a sacred animal for the Bishnoi community. This incident drew nationwide attention to the gangster, propelling him into the limelight.
But before Bishnoi became synonymous with crime, he was deeply involved in student politics. Born in Dhattaranwali, a small village in Fazilka, Punjab, he shifted to Chandigarh in 2010 to pursue higher education. His political journey began in earnest when he enrolled at DAV College and became associated with the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), a politically active student body. In 2011, Lawrence became the president of SOPU, solidifying his influence within the student community.
His political rise, however, was short-lived. In 2010, at just 19 years old, Bishnoi faced his first criminal case—a charge of attempted murder. A year later, he was booked for assault. These early cases, although linked to his activities in student politics, marked the beginning of his descent into organized crime. His involvement in campus politics and the local power dynamics of Punjab laid the groundwork for his criminal career. During this time, he aligned himself with influential figures like Vicky Middukhera, a Youth Akali Dal leader who would later play a pivotal role in Bishnoi’s criminal trajectory.
Middukhera’s murder in 2021 sparked a bloody feud in Punjab’s underworld. In retaliation, Bishnoi’s gang took credit for the assassination of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022, claiming Moose Wala had been complicit in Middukhera’s killing. The high-profile murder of Moose Wala further cemented Bishnoi’s status as one of India’s most feared gangsters, as his network of violence and retribution spread beyond the borders of Punjab.
The Size and Reach of Lawrence Bishnoi’s Gang
Lawrence Bishnoi’s rise from student politics to gang leader has been marked by the rapid expansion of his criminal syndicate. His father, an agriculturist from Ferozepur, Punjab, likely never envisioned his son’s transition from an active student leader to a notorious figure in India’s criminal underworld. Initially confined to the border regions of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana, Bishnoi’s gang has now grown into a pan-India criminal enterprise with an estimated 700 members. These gang members are involved in everything from contract killings to extortion, creating a network of crime that spans multiple states.
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Despite being imprisoned, Bishnoi continues to wield power over his vast network. His gang has established a strong presence not only in northern India but also in cities like Mumbai, where they are involved in extortion rackets targeting business people and Bollywood celebrities. Bishnoi’s fixation on Salman Khan, in particular, has escalated tensions. Earlier this year, in April, shots were reportedly fired outside Khan’s Mumbai residence, a grim reminder of the gang’s relentless pursuit of notoriety.
Officials believe that Bishnoi’s continued targeting of Khan is part of a broader strategy to enhance his reputation and control over the criminal landscape. The blackbuck case, while significant to the Bishnoi community, serves as a pretext for a more calculated move by the gangster to secure his name in the annals of organized crime. By taking aim at such high-profile figures, Bishnoi is not only asserting his influence but also sending a message to his rivals and the public that his reach is limitless, even from behind bars.
The rise of Lawrence Bishnoi from a politically active student to a feared gangster is a grim testament to how quickly power dynamics can shift in the world of crime. His involvement in high-profile murders, including the recent killing of Baba Siddique, signals a dangerous escalation in his gang’s activities. As Bishnoi’s network of crime continues to grow, his actions reverberate across India’s political and entertainment spheres, leaving a trail of violence and fear in his wake. The investigation into Siddique’s murder may unravel more than just a personal vendetta—it could expose the full extent of Bishnoi’s criminal empire.
