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{{Short description|Indian gangster (born 1993)}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Lawrence Bishnoi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|2|12|df=y}}<ref name=bio />
| birth_place = [[Ferozpur district|Ferozpur]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| alma_mater = [[Panjab University]] ([[LL.B]])
| years_active = 2010–present
| known_for = Assassination threat to [[Salman Khan]]<br/> Planned the murder of [[Sidhu Moose Wala]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/lawrence-bishnoi-admits-had-planned-to-kill-moosewala-but-executed-by-his-gang-members/articleshow/92288843.cms | title=Lawrence Bishnoi admits he planned Moose Wala killing, but doesn't know shooters | Chandigarh News - Times of India | website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref>
| criminal_status = In custody in [[Tihar Jail]]
| states = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]<br>[[Rajasthan]]<br>[[Haryana]]
| image =
}}
'''Lawrence Bishnoi''' (born 12 February 1993) is an Indian gangster.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-31 |title=Who is Lawrence Bishnoi whose gang claimed to have killed Sidhu Moose Wala|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/who-is-lawrence-bishnoi-sidhu-moosewala-killed-7943398/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He has two dozen criminal cases against him including ones for murder and extortion. He has denied these allegations.<ref>{{cite web | title=Notorious gangster threatens to kill Salman Khan | website=The Asian Post | date=2018-01-08 | url=https://theasianpost.co.uk/notorious-gangster-threatens-to-kill-salman-khan/ | access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-31 |title=Lawrence Bishnoi, being investigated in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder, threatened Salman Khan's life in 2018: 'Jodhpur mein hi maarenge…' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/lawrence-bishnoi-sidhu-moose-wala-murder-earlier-threatened-salman-khan-life-7945017/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> His gang is affiliated with over 700 shooters across the country.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last1=Anand |first1=Jatin |last2=Sur |first2=Arnabjit |date=2022-06-02 |title=How Lawrence Bishnoi fell on the wrong side of the law |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/how-lawrence-bishnoi-fell-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-law/article65489111.ece |access-date=2022-06-03 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="ao" /> He is in custody in [[Tihar Jail]].

== Early life ==
Lawrence Bishnoi was born on 12 February 1993 in a village in [[Ferozpur district|Ferozpur]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lawrence-bishnoi-whose-gang-shot-sidhu-moose-wala-1955873-2022-05-30 | title=Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, whose gang shot Sidhu Moose Wala }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chandigar |first=Arvind Ojha |date=May 30, 2022|title=Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, whose gang shot Sidhu Moose Wala |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lawrence-bishnoi-whose-gang-shot-sidhu-moose-wala-1955873-2022-05-30 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> His father was a police constable for the [[Haryana Police]]. He left the police force in 1997 and became a farmer. Bishnoi studied in Abohar until the 12th grade in 2010 when he moved to [[Chandigarh]] to [[DAV College, Chandigarh|DAV College]]. He joined the [[Panjab University Campus Students Council]] in 2011, where he met Goldy Brar (real name Satinder Singh), another gangster. They became involved in university politics and began committing crimes.<ref name=bio /> He completed his [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]] from [[Panjab University]].<ref name=":2" />

== Criminal activity ==

Bishnoi began his criminal activities in Chandigarh when several [[First information report|first information reports (FIRs)]] were registered against him for crimes including an attempt to murder, trespassing, assault and robbery between 2010 and 2012. All of these cases were related to his involvement in student politics. Out of the seven FIRs registered against him in Chandigarh, he was acquitted in four and three cases are still pending. During his time in jail, Bishnoi built alliances with criminals behind bars. After being released, he met with arms dealers and other local criminals. His gang increased in size throughout his education in Panjab University.<ref name=":3" />

After graduation in 2013, he allegedly gunned down the winning candidate of elections of the Government College in [[Muktsar]] and a rival candidate at the [[Ludhiana Municipal Corporation]] elections. Bishnoi had to often go into hiding. After 2013 he ventured into liquor dealing. He also sheltered murderers in his gang. In 2014 he had an armed encounter with the [[Rajasthan Police]] after which he was sent to jail where he plotted murders and witness executions.<ref name=":3" />

He befriended a gangster-turned-politician, Jaswinder Singh, alias Rocky. Under Rocky, he remained active in [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur, Rajasthan]]. Rocky was assassinated in 2016 by Jaipal Bhullar, who himself was gunned down in 2020.<ref name=":0" />

In 2018, a close associate of Bishnoi, Sampath Nehra, who allegedly carried out recce of Salman Khan's residence, disclosed that he was tasked with assassinating [[Salman Khan]] for his involvement in the [[Salman Khan#Blackbuck hunting and Arms Act violations cases|Black Buck hunting case]]. According to the police, the Bishnoi community considers the [[Blackbuck|Black Buck]] species to be sacred.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=ao>{{Cite web |date=May 31, 2022 |first=Arvind |last=Ojha |title='Will kill Salman Khan in Jodhpur': Watch Lawrence Bishnoi's threat to Bollywood star in 2018 {{!}} Video |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lawrence-bishnois-threat-to-kill-salman-khan-in-jodhpur-video-1956449-2022-05-31 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

While being transported by police to appear in a [[Jodhpur]] court in Rajasthan for a case of extortion, Bishnoi stated that "Salman Khan will be killed here, in Jodhpur... Then he will come to know about our real identity... Now, if police want me to do some major crime, I shall kill Salman Khan and that too in Jodhpur." He claimed that he had been framed for fake charges.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Salman Khan Gets Death Threat From Gangster |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/salman-khan-gets-death-threat-from-notorious-gangster-1796491 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-06 |title=Salman Khan issued death threats by Rajasthan-based gangster; linked to black buck case?-Entertainment News , Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/salman-khan-issued-death-threats-by-rajasthan-based-gangster-linked-to-black-buck-case-4289843.html |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref>

He continued to operate his syndicate while in [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]] jail, allegedly by receiving help from jail staff. In 2021, he was transferred to [[Tihar Jail]] in Delhi regarding a case registered under the [[MCOCA]]. According to authorities, Bishnoi uses [[Voice over IP]] calls to communicate with his associates outside the jail.<ref name=":3" />

On 29 May 2022, Punjabi singer [[Sidhu Moose Wala]] was shot dead in [[Mansa, Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=Days after his security trimmed, Congress leader Moosewala shot dead in Punjab |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/amritsar/punjabi-singer-congress-leader-sidhu-moose-wala-shot-dead-7942590/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Hours after the assassination, responsibility for the shooting was claimed by Goldy Brar, who claimed that he had engineered the plot with Bishnoi. Police suggested that Bishnoi's gang was involved in the shooting. At the time of the shooting, he was in Tihar Jail.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-31 |title=Five things to know about Goldy Brar, who claimed responsibility for Sidhu Moosewala's death |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/who-is-goldy-brar-sidhu-moosewala-murder-7943245/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Delhi Police Special Cell obtained a 5 day custody of Bishnoi for investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Tanseem |last1=Haider |first2=Arvind |last2=Ojha |date=May 31, 2022 |title=Delhi Police Special Cell gets 5-day custody of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Sidhu Moose Wala murder case |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-police-special-cell-custody-lawrence-bishnoi-sidhu-moose-wala-murder-1956598-2022-05-31 |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

Soon after Moose Wala's assassination, Bishnoi moved a plea in the [[Delhi High Court]] stating that he was afraid for his life and feared a [[Encounter killings by police|fake encounter]] by the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab police]]. He said that the Delhi Police and the Tihar Jail authority must ensure his safety and that he must be properly handcuffed and shackled. He later withdrew that plea from the Delhi HC. He later moved his petition in the [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawrence Bishnoi moves Punjab and Haryana High Court after withdrawing plea from Delhi High Court |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/lawrence-bishnoi-moves-punjab-and-haryana-high-court-after-withdrawing-plea-from-delhi-high-court-400097 |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=Sidhu Moose Wala murder: Lawrence Bishnoi takes back Delhi HC plea, will move Punjab high court |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sidhu-moose-wala-murder-lawrence-bishnoi-takes-back-delhi-hc-plea-will-move-punjab-high-court-101654066355531.html |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

The Bishnoi gang is allegedly working with 700 shooters across 5 states in India with a reach outside India as well.<ref name=ao/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishnoi, Lawrence}}
[[Category:Indian criminals]]
[[Category:Indian gangsters]]
[[Category:1993 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]

Lawrence Bishnoi - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 21:28, 21 July 2023