On Monday, Canadian police made a dramatic claim, alleging that Indian government agents were using “organized crime groups like the Bishnoi group” to target leaders of the pro-Khalistan movement, which advocates for a separate Sikh homeland in India.
This announcement followed the expulsion of top diplomats from both countries as tensions escalated over the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil last year. India dismissed the accusations as “preposterous,” accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of pandering to Canada’s large Sikh community for political reasons.
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The Canadian police referenced Lawrence Bishnoi, a 31-year-old Indian gangster, who has once again captured attention both domestically and internationally. Indian authorities claim his gang is linked to the recent murder of prominent politician Baba Siddique, who was shot dead near his son’s office in Mumbai. Three suspects are in custody, and a supposed associate of Bishnoi took to social media to claim responsibility for the killing.
Bishnoi, one of India’s most notorious criminals, has been imprisoned since 2015, currently held in Gujarat, far from his home state of Punjab. Despite his incarceration, police believe his influence continues. He is the prime suspect in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who was gunned down near his village in October 2022.
In 2018, Bishnoi gained notoriety for threatening Bollywood star Salman Khan, accusing him of poaching two blackbuck antelopes, a sacred species to the Bishnoi community. During a court appearance in Jodhpur, Bishnoi openly told the media, “Salman Khan will be killed here, in Jodhpur… Then he will know who we really are.” Notably, Baba Siddique, the murdered politician, was a close friend of the actor.
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Last year, a news channel aired two interviews with Bishnoi from inside a Punjab jail, prompting outrage and a court-ordered investigation. How a high-security inmate managed phone interviews from prison remains unclear. Authorities estimate that Bishnoi continues to lead a gang of 700 members across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, involved in extortion, drug and weapon smuggling, and targeted killings. His associate, Goldy Brar, also accused in the Moose Wala murder, is said to run the gang from Canada.
Bishnoi faces over 30 cases, with 19 currently under trial. According to Punjab’s anti-gangster task force, Bishnoi operates his gang efficiently from behind bars. Unlike other regional gangsters, he has larger ambitions.
Born into a wealthy family in Punjab, Bishnoi’s father, a former policeman, eventually left his job to manage the family’s extensive land holdings. Both of Bishnoi’s parents raised him and his brother Anmol, who is also a suspect in Moose Wala’s murder. Bishnoi was named after British officer Henry Montgomery Lawrence, founder of the prestigious Lawrence School in Sanawar. Raised in privilege, he attended a convent school, had his own bike by eighth grade, and wore expensive shoes—luxuries uncommon in his village. Known for helping local children in need, he was an introverted but influential figure.
After finishing school in 2008, Bishnoi moved to Chandigarh for college, where he quickly became involved in student politics. His wealth, style, and boldness attracted followers, though losing a student election was a turning point for him. Police records show that this defeat pushed him toward a life of crime, as he mingled with former student leaders-turned-criminals. Soon, Bishnoi’s name became associated with campus violence, arson, and gunfights.
Punjab, Bishnoi’s home state, is plagued by gangs involved in drug and weapon smuggling, extortion, and connections to the local entertainment industry. Crime in the state is not solely about wealth but also the pursuit of fame and notoriety, often amplified through social media. Many gangsters flaunt their lifestyles online, attracting young recruits and retired athletes to the underworld.
By September, police reported dismantling over 500 gangs and arresting more than 1,400 criminals since mid-2021. In clashes with the police, 16 gangsters were killed and over 80 injured, while three officers lost their lives and 26 were wounded. Bishnoi himself has been convicted in four cases, though none for serious crimes like murder.
Bishnoi’s rise to power is remarkable. Despite his imprisonment, he continues to command influence. “He seems to be running his gang from prison,” says Jupinderjit Singh, a journalist and author of Who Killed Moose Wala. “Such control would be impossible without powerful allies.” Distinguishing between the man and the myth of Lawrence Bishnoi remains a challenge.
