Mon Oct 14 13:23:00 UTC 2024: ## Lawrence Bishnoi: The Gangster Who Operates From Behind Bars
**Mumbai, India** – After two decades of relative peace, Mumbai is facing a new wave of fear as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, known for its brutal activities in Punjab and Delhi, establishes a presence in the financial capital. This marks a shift in the criminal landscape, as Mumbai’s underworld, once dominated by figures like Dawood Ibrahim operating from abroad, now faces a new threat from within India’s prison system.
Lawrence Bishnoi, despite being incarcerated for over a decade, continues to run his criminal empire, orchestrating murders, threatening Bollywood stars, and even extorting money from influential figures. He has been moved between various prisons across India, yet his influence remains undiminished.
The Bishnoi gang, known for its ruthless tactics and recruitment of young people, operates across five states, with connections extending internationally. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has compared the group to Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company, citing its similar progression from petty crimes to large-scale criminal enterprises.
Bishnoi’s ability to control his operations from behind bars raises questions about his “suraksha kavach” (protective shield). How is a gangster, charged under the stringent UAPA law, able to communicate with his aides using VoIP calls and even grant interviews from jail?
The case of Baba Siddique, a prominent NCP leader and alleged associate of Dawood Ibrahim, who was murdered by the Bishnoi gang, highlights the gang’s growing audacity.
Bishnoi’s rise to prominence began during his university days in Chandigarh. He built alliances with other criminals, including notorious gangster Goldy Brar, and quickly became involved in a variety of crimes, including extortion, arms smuggling, and providing refuge to other criminals.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang’s activities extend beyond Punjab, with operations stretching across North India and international connections. The gang employs a network of over 700 shooters, using advanced communication methods and strategically avoiding bail applications to maintain its control.
The question of how a criminal mastermind like Bishnoi can operate so freely from behind bars is a cause for concern. It is clear that he is benefiting from a complex web of connections, including potentially powerful allies and a system that seems to be failing to contain him. The authorities are facing the challenging task of dismantling his operation and bringing this formidable criminal to justice.
First Piper 