 |
|
The recent murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique has thrust the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang into the spotlight, as authorities investigate its potential involvement in the cold-blooded killing. The Bishnoi gang, known for its ruthless nature, has a history of targeting high-profile individuals, and leaked documents from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reveal a chilling list of names on their hit list, including Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and Shaganpreet Singh, the manager of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
Bishnoi's vendetta against Salman Khan stems from the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, which the Bishnoi community, who revere the blackbuck as a sacred animal, views as a sacrilege. The gang leader has vowed revenge, even going so far as to send his associate, Sampat Nehra, to surveil Khan's Mumbai residence, though the plan was thwarted when Nehra was apprehended by the Haryana Special Task Force. In April 2024, Khan's home was targeted by gunmen who fired shots before fleeing, highlighting the continued danger he faces.
Shaganpreet Singh, Sidhu Moose Wala's manager, has been placed on the hit list because Bishnoi believes he provided refuge to the killers of his close associate, Vicky Middukhera. Middukhera was gunned down in Mohali in August 2021, and Bishnoi is determined to avenge his death by targeting Singh. This targeted violence extends to other individuals involved in the Middukhera case. Mandeep Dhariwal, a key aide to absconding gangster Gaurav Padial, was shot dead in the Philippines after being accused of aiding Middukhera's killers. The killing was claimed by the Goldy Brar gang, which is allied with the Bishnoi network.
Bishnoi has also targeted Kaushal Chaudhary, a notorious gangster currently in Gurugram jail. Chaudhary is linked to the Bambiha gang and was implicated in supplying weapons to Middukhera's assassins. Bishnoi has vowed to eliminate Chaudhary at any cost. Another individual on Bishnoi's radar is Amit Dagar, a jailed gangster known for his association with Chaudhary. Dagar was also implicated in the Middukhera murder and has confessed to several other homicides and extortion cases.
The revelation of this extensive hit list underscores the growing threat posed by the Bishnoi gang. Its network, said to encompass over 700 shooters across 11 states, has expanded rapidly, raising comparisons to the infamous Dawood Ibrahim syndicate. The gang's brazen claim of responsibility for Baba Siddique's murder further reinforces their ruthless reputation and raises serious concerns about the escalating violence linked to their operations. Authorities are facing a daunting task in combating the Bishnoi gang's influence and preventing future acts of violence.