Noose tightens around Bishnaya gang, 7 shooters arrested during pan-Indian operation

New Delhi:

Seven “shooters” who work for Lavrentiy Bishnoi a gang linked to a shooting near a Bollywood star Salman Khanhouse and murder of ex-minister of Maharashtra Baba Siddiquiwere arrested in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi in the last 48 hours, sources told NDTV on Friday.

Six semi-automatic weapons and ammunition were seized in what the Delhi Police Special Task Force said was a “pan-India” operation. The killers are being questioned about the Baba Siddiqui killing and other operations of the Bishnoi gang, which has also been named by the Canadian federal police connections with “agents” of the Indian government as well as murder and extortion cases.

Sources said the shooters from the Bishnoi gang (the first arrest was made on Wednesday) were given a list of targets, including one (yet unidentified) person in Haryana. Another possible (also still unidentified) target was in Rajasthan, and his execution was authorized by Arzu Bishnoi.

The arrest of seven killers and others in connection with the murder of Baba Siddiqui, the release of Salman Khan and the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala is just the apex of a large crime syndicate run by Lawrence Bishnoi from his jail cell in Sabarmati Jail. Gujarati.

1.11 lakh rupees “Board” for Bishnoi

Bishnoi’s infamy led to an ironic twist of fortune this week after the Kshatriya Karni Sena, a Rajput group, offered a cash reward of Rs 1.11 lakh for the “meeting” of the gangster’s death.

This followed the assassination of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, a prominent Rajput leader, in December.

READ | Rs 1.11 lakh cash: Karni Sena’s offer for Bishnoi ‘Encounter’

Eight members of Bishnoi’s gang were arrested in the case, but one of his trusted aides, Rohit Godar, who planned the murder, escaped. Intel said he fled India on a fake passport.

Not surprisingly, Godara is believed to be in Canada, where the Bishnoi gang has a strong base.

Assassination of Baba Siddiqui

More than a dozen other Bishnoi gangsters, including two of the three gunmen, were arrested in the Baba Siddiqui murder case. The main gunman Shivkumar Gautam and two others involved in the murder plot are on the run, police said.

The three gunmen threw chilli powder at the policeman guarding Siddique before killing him.

READ | Baba Siddiqui’s shooters threw chili powder at a policeman guarding the ex-minister

The two arrested have been identified as 23-year-old Gurmel Baljit Singh from Haryana and 19-year-old Dharmaraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh.

Salman Khan’s release case

Last Thursday, the Navi Mumbai police arrested another Bishnoi shooter named Sukha from Panipat in Haryana. And among the other shooters involved is Vishal, who has ties to Rohit Godara.

READ | The prime accused in the attack on Salman Khan’s farm has been arrested

Vishal is also wanted in connection with the murder of a Gurguram businessman in March.

How Bishnoi Gang works

Orders to the henchmen in India and abroad come through deputies, including Bishnoi’s brother Anmol, who was today awarded a reward of Rs 10 lakh by the NIA.

Anmol Bishnoi is wanted in connection with the shooting outside Salman Khan’s house.

READ | 10 lakh rupees reward for Bishnoi’s brother added to most wanted list

The Bishnoi gang is known to be involved in a variety of criminal activities, including murder, extortion and arms trafficking, and their reputation has been growing over the past few years.

The group mostly extorts money from high-profile targets, including celebrities such as Punjabi singers, the liquor mafia and other prominent businessmen, hiring professional gunmen to kill and intimidate victims into submission.

NDTV explains | Bishnoi has 700 riflemen. How he acts from prison

In addition to his army of assassins, Bishnoi is also known for having separate teams that handle logistics, handle legal matters, and gather intelligence on his rivals, enemies, and targets.

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