Here's how Lawrence Bishnoi directs his 700 shooters from within prison walls

The chilling murder of veteran politician Baba Siddique has reignited focus on the notorious Bishnoi gang and its leader, Lawrence Bishnoi. Siddique, a 66-year-old Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP) leader and former minister, was gunned down outside his son's office in Bandra East, Mumbai, on Saturday night. The attackers, who fired multiple rounds at him, claimed to belong to the Bishnoi gang, whose leader remains incarcerated in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail.

How does the Bishnoi gang's operate?
With a global reach that extends beyond Indian borders, the Bishnoi gang is not a small-time crime syndicate. The gang operates extensively across several Indian states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh, while also maintaining ties abroad, particularly in Canada.

Goldy Brar, a key figure in the crime syndicate, is based in Canada, highlighting the gang's international connections. The Bishnoi gang's influence has steadily grown, and its activities now encompass extortion, murder, and arms trafficking, primarily targeting high-profile victims, including celebrities like Punjabi singers and the liquor mafia.

Lawrence Bishnoi's criminal network
Lawrence Bishnoi, born in 1993 in Dhattaranwali village near Punjab's Abohar, grew up in a modest background with his father working as a Haryana Police constable. His entry into organized crime began during his college days at Punjab University in Chandigarh, where he met Goldy Brar, who would later become a close associate. The gang's operations continue to thrive even while Lawrence remains incarcerated; his capacity to organize and execute crimes from within the prison has raised serious concerns.

Despite being in solitary confinement, Lawrence Bishnoi employs sophisticated methods to communicate with his associates. Reports indicate that he uses mobile phones smuggled into prisons, fitted with high-end VPN networks to obscure communication locations. He frequently communicates with associates in India and abroad through apps like Signal and Telegram, facilitating ongoing criminal activities.

According to an NDTV report, in India, the Bishnoi gang maintains a roster of around 700 shooters. The gang reaches out to local gangsters who then hire young, often underage recruits seeking quick financial gains. These new shooters are given specific targets to kill without full awareness of the overarching organization they are serving. This recruitment strategy allows the gang to operate discreetly while maintaining a degree of plausible deniability.

The Bishnoi gang has gained a reputation for its cold-blooded efficiency in executing high-profile hits and extortion schemes. Notable among these was the alleged plot to assassinate Bollywood star Salman Khan in connection to the blackbuck hunting case.

Reports reveal that the gang issued a contract worth ₹25 lakh to carry out the hit, which involved a complex plan extending from August 2023 to April 2024. Investigations suggest that the gang aimed to acquire advanced firearms, including AK-47s and M16 rifles, to facilitate their operations.

Challenges for Law Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies have long suspected that Lawrence Bishnoi continues to orchestrate his gang's operations from within prison. Despite being kept in solitary confinement and shifted between various jails, his influence remains strong. His ability to maintain control over the gang’s activities, using smuggled mobile phones, poses significant challenges for authorities tasked with curbing organized crime in India.

The recent surge in violence linked to the Bishnoi gang, especially highlighted by the assassination of Baba Siddique, underscores the urgent need for effective measures to combat organized crime. The gang's extensive operations and connections to other criminals amplify the complexities facing law enforcement as they work to restore public safety in affected regions.