Lawrence Bishnoi has been incarcerated since 2015, now being detained far from his hometown in Punjab, Gujarat [Getty Images]
Recently, Canadian authorities made a bold assertion.
They claimed during a press briefing that agents of the Indian government were utilizing criminal organizations like the Bishnoi group to target leaders of the pro-Khalistan movement, advocating for a separate Sikh homeland in India.
This revelation came shortly after both nations expelled senior diplomats amid escalating tensions following the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil last year. Delhi dismissed the allegations as “absurd”, accusing PM Justin Trudeau of pandering to Canada’s significant Sikh community for political gain.
The Canadian police were referring to Lawrence Bishnoi, a 31-year-old criminal from India, who is now back in the limelight both domestically and internationally.
Indian law enforcement officials claim that his gang is connected to the murder of a prominent politician in Mumbai over the weekend – gunmen fatally shot 66-year-old Baba Siddique near his son’s office. Three suspects have been apprehended. An alleged associate of Bishnoi has taken to social media to claim that the gang is responsible for the killing.
Once on the list of India’s most wanted criminals, Bishnoi has been behind bars since 2015, now held far away from his native Punjab in Gujarat.
However, authorities believe that his powerful influence persists. Bishnoi is the main suspect in the high-profile murder of Sidhu Moose Wala, the well-known Punjabi singer who was gunned down near his village in October 2022.
In 2018, Bishnoi gained notoriety by threatening Bollywood star Salman Khan, accusing him of illegally hunting two blackbuck antelopes – a revered species for Rajasthan’s Bishnoi community to which Lawrence belongs.
During a court appearance in Jodhpur city, he openly declared to the awaiting media: “Salman Khan will be killed here, in Jodhpur… Then he will come to know about our real identity.” Interestingly, Siddique, the murdered politician, was a close associate of the Bollywood star.
Bishnoi is the prime suspect in the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala, the popular Punjabi singer, in October 2022 [Getty Images]
In March of last year, a news channel aired two interviews with Bishnoi from inside a Punjab prison, prompting a shocked high court to launch an investigation. How a high-security inmate managed to conduct phone interviews from prison remains a mystery.
Federal investigators estimate that Bishnoi continues to lead a gang comprising 700 members across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, engaging in activities such as extorting celebrities, smuggling drugs and weapons, and carrying out targeted assassinations. His partner Goldy Brar, also a co-accused in the Moose Wala murder, allegedly runs the gang from Canada. Bishnoi is facing over 30 cases, with 19 currently under trial.
“He runs his gang smoothly from prison without needing to micromanage everything,” states Gurmeet Chauhan, a senior officer in Punjab’s anti-gangster task force. “Unlike other criminals confined to a specific area, he thinks on a larger scale.”
Bishnoi was born into wealth. His family is one of the most affluent in their village in Punjab, residing in a spacious bungalow surrounded by over 100 acres of land. His father, a former police officer, eventually resigned to tend to the family’s land, while his mother is a homemaker. The couple raised two sons – Lawrence and Anmol – both now prime suspects in Moose Wala’s murder.
Ramesh Bishnoi, a relative, informed Jupinderjit Singh, a journalist and author of Who Killed Moose Wala, that Lawrence was named after British officer Henry Montgomery Lawrence, founder of the prestigious Lawrence School in the hill town of Sanawar.
Lawrence Bishnoi attended a convent school himself, riding his own bike by the eighth grade and sporting expensive footwear – luxuries that were uncommon for many. Known for quietly assisting local children in need, he was a reserved figure with undeniable influence, according to Mr. Singh.
Indian authorities connect Bishnoi’s gang to the murder of Baba Siddique (center); Salman Khan (left) has also been threatened [Getty Images]
After completing school in 2008, he moved to a college in Chandigarh, quickly immersing himself in student politics in the city. “He had money, style, and courage,” a Chandigarh police officer told Mr. Singh, explaining how effortlessly Bishnoi attracted followers. He joined a student organization, ran for student elections, and suffered defeat – a setback that deeply affected him.
Police reports indicate that this turning point pushed him closer to a life of violence as he associated with some former student leaders turned criminals. Soon, police say, Bishnoi’s name became linked to brawls, arson, and gunfire incidents on campus.
Punjab, Bishnoi’s homeland, is rife with criminal gangs that facilitate the smuggling of drugs and weapons, extortion, and corruption in the local film and music industry. A cash-driven economy, fueled by drugs, real estate, and illicit liquor sales, has fueled this surge, creating an ecosystem that blends crime with Punjabi pop culture, according to many.
Punjab’s gangsters do not enter the criminal world solely for monetary gain – they also seek fame, a deep-seated desire to “be somebody,” according to Mr. Singh.
This distorted pursuit of notoriety is rooted in the feudal, patriarchal culture. Social media amplifies it, with many criminals showcasing their lives online. They flaunt their wealth on social media, where crime is often viewed as a means to quick riches and glamour. This has enticed retired athletes and young recruits across Punjab to embrace the dark side.
By September, authorities reported dismantling over 500 gangs and arresting more than 1,400 gangsters since mid-2021. In clashes with law enforcement, 16 gangsters had been killed and over 80 injured, while three officers lost their lives and 26 were wounded. According to police, Bishnoi has been convicted in four cases, although none yet for serious offenses such as murder.
Canada alleges that India used “crime groups like the Bishnoi gang” to target pro-Khalistan leaders [Getty Images]
With his neatly trimmed beard, hood pulled over watchful eyes, Bishnoi often presents himself as a typical young man. When the stakes are high, he displays a cunning ability to manage his image. During a court appearance, he wore a T-shirt adorned with the image of Bhagat Singh, the revered Indian revolutionary.
In a widely circulated video, reportedly filmed in prison, the bearded criminal declares, “There is a desire for revolution in our hearts. Let’s see how much strength the enemy has.” The exact meaning of his words remains unclear.
Bishnoi’s ascent is unparalleled. “Despite being imprisoned, he seems to be running his gang smoothly. “¿Quién le proporciona logística o acceso a los medios? Tal control sería imposible sin aliados poderosos”, dice el Sr. Singh. Separar al hombre del mito sigue siendo esquivo.
Con informes adicionales de Arvind Chhabra en Chandigarh
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