Lawrence Bishnoi gang allege to have killed Baba Siddique
Lawrence Bishnoi gang allege to have killed Baba Siddique
After the open murder of former Minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique on Sunday,
the Mumbai Crime Branch continues to face challenges in getting the custody of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat notwithstanding his name surfacing in high-profile cases. Following his alleged involvement having come to light in the firing incident at actor Salman Khan’s residence in April this year, the Mumbai Police filed multiple applications but could not succeed in getting custody of the notorious gangster operating from Jail.
While the Mumbai Police are into investigation, the shooters arrested for the killing have also claimed to be from the gang.
The key reason is an order by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which prohibits the transfer of Bishnoi from Sabarmati prison in Ahmedabad. The order, issued under Section 268 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), gives the government power to bar the movement of high-profile prisoners in the likelihood it may affect law and order.
It was initially in effect until August 2024 but has now reportedly been extended.
Bishnoi was shifted to Sabarmati Central Jail from Delhi’s Tihar Jail in August 2023 in connection with a case of cross-border smuggling of drugs. The dreaded gangster is involved in dozens of cases registered against him. He had also claimed responsibility for the fatal attack on Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
While Bishnoi is incarcerated, his operation is overseen by three wanted gangsters
based abroad– his brother Anmol Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, and Rohit d Rohit Godar. The NIA’s chargesheet mentions that this crime syndicate has expanded at an unprecedented rate, similar to how Dawood Ibrahim built his network in the 1990s, beginning with minor crimes.
As per two .of the arrested accused in the Baba Siddique murder told the Mumbai Police on Sunday that they belonged to the Bishnoi gang. Later, a social media post claiming responsibility for the murder was also posted from an account of an alleged member of the gang. The police said they are probing the authenticity of the post as well as the Bishnoi gang link.
The gang’s post mentioned that they targeted Siddiqui because of his close connection with Salman Khan, whom the Bishnoi gang has been targeting since he hunted two blackbucks, which are worshipped by the Bishnoi community. The post also threatened that anyone who helps Salman Khan or the Dawood gang should be prepared.
Salman Khan has been repeatedly targeted by the gang over the years, with the latest incident in April when two men on a motorcycle fired shots outside his Mumbai home. In June 2022, they allegedly sent a handwritten threat, warning the actor that he would meet the same fate as Sidhu Moose Wala.
News Edit KV Raman
