The Lawrence Bishnoi gang is currently facing intense scrutiny for its alleged involvement in several high-profile criminal activities, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique. Additionally, the gang has been connected to repeated threats against Bollywood superstar Salman Khan
Understanding the origins of this gang, its activities, and the key individuals involved offers valuable insight into one of the most dangerous criminal organizations currently operating in northern India.
Lawrence Bishnoi is a 31-year-old gangster from Dhattaranwali village in Punjab’s Ferozepur district. He comes from a well-off agricultural family and belongs to the Bishnoi community, which is spread across Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan.
After completing his schooling up to Class 12, Bishnoi moved to Chandigarh in 2010 to pursue higher education. He enrolled at Panjab University’s DAV College, where he quickly became involved in student politics, ultimately serving as the president of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) during the 2011-2012 academic year.
However, his trajectory soon took a criminal turn, with student politics serving as a cover for more serious activities. His first criminal charges were filed in 2010 for attempted murder, and since then, he has accumulated numerous accusations, ranging from extortion to murder. Despite being incarcerated in Sabarmati Central Jail, he has continued to orchestrate his criminal operations from behind bars.
Gang Rivalries and Major Criminal Operations
Lawrence Bishnoi’s rise in the criminal underworld has not been without its challenges. His gang has been involved in numerous violent rivalries, often resorting to revenge killings as part of its operations. The gang’s activities extend across various regions, particularly in northern India, where they target influential figures in both politics and business.
One of Bishnoi’s closest associates was Jaswinder Singh, known as Rocky, a gangster-turned-politician from Fazilka, Punjab. Rocky played a crucial role in helping Bishnoi expand his operations into cities like Sri Ganganagar, located on the Rajasthan-Punjab border, and Bharatpur. However, Rocky was assassinated in May 2020 in Himachal Pradesh by a rival gangster, Jaipal Bhullar.
In addition to these rivalries, the Bishnoi gang has been involved in several cross-border smuggling operations, particularly in drug trafficking. Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has accused Bishnoi of leveraging his network to facilitate smuggling between India and neighboring countries, establishing him as a significant figure in both local and international crime circles.
