The gang of Lawrence Bishnoi has taken responsibility for the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, while also issuing fresh threats to Bollywood star Salman Khan. The assassination of Siddique, known for his close ties to Khan, marks a significant escalation in the long-standing vendetta between Bishnoi and the actor.
Siddique, a prominent political figure and friend of Khan, was gunned down outside his Bandra office on Sunday evening. Hours after the attack, Bishnoi’s gang claimed responsibility via social media, warning that anyone associated with Salman Khan would face similar consequences. This brazen act has intensified concerns surrounding Khan’s safety, who has been a target of the Bishnoi gang for years.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s Vendetta Against Salman Khan
Lawrence Bishnoi, a feared gangster with a vast criminal network both in India and abroad, has been vocal about his animosity towards Salman Khan. Bishnoi, a member of the Bishnoi community that reveres the blackbuck as a sacred animal, was outraged by Khan’s involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan. Although Khan was eventually granted bail in the case, Bishnoi vowed to seek revenge for the killing of the protected species.
Bishnoi’s grudge against Khan first came to light in 2018 when he openly threatened the actor while in police custody. At the time, many dismissed these threats as mere bravado, but the situation has since escalated dramatically.
A String of Threats and Violence
The Bishnoi gang’s threats against Salman Khan became more serious in 2022, following the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, which the gang had orchestrated. A chilling letter, discovered by Khan’s father, Salim Khan, during a morning walk, warned that the actor and his family would face a similar fate to Moose Wala. The letter read, “Tumhara Moose Wala kar denge (you will end up like Moose Wala),” alluding to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. The note was a stark reminder that Bishnoi’s threats were not to be taken lightly.
In April 2024, the feud took a violent turn when shots were fired outside Khan’s residence in Bandra. Though no one was injured, the incident underscored the gang’s willingness to act on their threats. The Mumbai Police later foiled a plot to ambush Khan near his farmhouse in Panvel, arresting several Bishnoi gang members and recovering weapons.
The gang’s reach extended beyond Indian borders, with warning shots fired outside Punjabi singer AP Dhillon’s Canadian home shortly after he collaborated with Khan on a music video.
Later that month, the actor’s father, Salim Khan, received a threat while out for a walk near his Bandra home. A man and a burqa-clad woman on a scooter approached him and cited the name of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
“Should I call Lawrence Bishnoi?” the burqa-clad woman said to Salim Khan when he was sitting on a bench.
Baba Siddique’s Murder
The murder of Baba Siddique, a well-known political figure and a long-time friend of Salman Khan, marks the most severe escalation in the Bishnoi gang’s campaign. Siddique was a regular host of annual Iftar parties attended by many high-profile figures, including Salman Khan.
The Bishnoi gang’s social media post claiming responsibility for Siddique’s murder not only took credit for the killing but also issued a direct warning to Khan, further raising the stakes. In response, security around the actor and his family has been significantly increased, with Khan already under Y+ security.
For now, Salman Khan remains in the crosshairs of one of India’s most dangerous criminal gangs, and the recent violence has only deepened concerns about how far Bishnoi and his associates are willing to go in their quest for revenge.
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