The recent murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique has brought the Lawrence Bishnoi gang under intense scrutiny, with law enforcement agencies investigating its potential involvement in the case. Siddique was shot dead outside his office in Mumbai late on a Saturday night, and within hours, a member of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the crime. The brazen attack has shaken both the political and law enforcement circles, leading to deeper investigations into the gang’s activities and motives.
As the investigation progresses, authorities have accessed crucial information from the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) previous interrogations of Lawrence Bishnoi, a high-profile gangster currently behind bars. During his interrogation, Bishnoi revealed a hit list featuring prominent figures, some of whom have already faced violent consequences, while others continue to be under threat. The murder of Baba Siddique is being examined in light of this hit list, and investigators are working to uncover any potential connections.
Salman Khan
One of the most high-profile names on Lawrence Bishnoi’s hit list is Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. Bishnoi has made no secret of his intention to target Khan, motivated by a desire to avenge the 1998 killing of a blackbuck, a species revered by the Bishnoi community. Khan was convicted in the blackbuck poaching case, which took place during the filming of the movie “Hum Saath Saath Hain,” and Bishnoi’s community considers the killing a sacrilegious act.
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According to NIA reports, Bishnoi’s plot to target Khan has been in the works for several years. His aide, Sampat Nehra, was sent to survey Khan’s residence in Mumbai, but the plan was foiled when Nehra was arrested by the Haryana Police Special Task Force. Despite this setback, the threat to Khan remained. In April 2024, gunmen fired multiple shots outside Khan’s Mumbai home, but fortunately, no one was injured in the attack. The incident was viewed as a serious attempt on Khan’s life, bringing the actor’s security concerns back into focus.
Shaganpreet Singh
Shaganpreet Singh, the manager of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, is also on Bishnoi’s list. Bishnoi holds Singh responsible for sheltering the killers of Vicky Middukhera, a close associate of the gangster who was shot dead in Mohali in August 2021. Middukhera, a political activist and Bishnoi’s ally, was considered like an elder brother to the gangster. Bishnoi believes that Singh’s actions led to Middukhera’s death and has vowed to take revenge by eliminating him.
Mandeep Dhariwal
Another figure on Bishnoi’s hit list is Mandeep Dhariwal, an aide to the absconding gangster Gaurav Padial, better known as Lucky Padial. Padial heads the Davinder Bambiha gang, a rival group to Lawrence Bishnoi’s. Dhariwal’s alleged involvement in assisting the killers of Vicky Middukhera earned him a place on Bishnoi’s radar. Dhariwal, who managed Padial’s business operations, was ultimately killed in the Philippines, with the Goldy Brar gang, an affiliate of the Bishnoi gang, claiming responsibility for the assassination.
Kaushal Chaudhary
Bishnoi has also expressed a strong desire to eliminate Kaushal Chaudhary, a notorious gangster currently imprisoned in Gurugram. Chaudhary, who is associated with the Bambiha gang, is accused of supplying weapons to Middukhera’s killers, making him an enemy of Bishnoi. Despite Chaudhary’s incarceration, Bishnoi remains determined to seek revenge and has made it clear that he is willing to go to any lengths to eliminate him.
Amit Dagar
Jailed gangster Amit Dagar, another rival to Bishnoi, is also on the gangster’s hit list. Dagar, who is linked to the murder of Middukhera, is a close ally of Kaushal Chaudhary and has been involved in a series of violent crimes. With a criminal record that includes seven murders and over a dozen extortion cases, Dagar was arrested in 2018 after a shootout in Gurugram. Bishnoi views Dagar as a significant threat and has placed him among his top targets.
The Lawrence Bishnoi Gang’s Expanding Network
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has long been a subject of concern for law enforcement, but recent events have escalated the situation. The gang’s vast network, which reportedly includes over 700 shooters spread across 11 states, has drawn comparisons to some of India’s most notorious criminal empires, including that of Dawood Ibrahim. The gang’s influence extends across multiple states, and its members are involved in extortion, contract killings, and other criminal activities.
The gang’s claim of responsibility for Baba Siddique’s murder has led investigators to suspect that the killing was a contract hit, orchestrated by Bishnoi’s associates. Siddique’s death, combined with the gang’s growing list of targets, highlights the escalating nature of gang violence in India and the far-reaching influence of criminal organizations like the Bishnoi gang.
The Road Ahead for Law Enforcement
The murder of Baba Siddique has intensified efforts to dismantle the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, but the task ahead is daunting. With a web of shooters and associates spread across the country, the gang’s operations have become increasingly difficult to contain. The recent revelations about Bishnoi’s hit list only add to the urgency of the situation, as several high-profile individuals remain at risk.
As the investigation into Siddique’s murder continues, law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to track down those responsible and prevent further violence. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, already infamous for its audacious crimes, is now under the microscope as authorities seek to bring an end to its reign of terror.