NEW DELHI, Nov 19: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday placed under arrest alleged gangster Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of jailed “gangster” Lawrence Bishnoi, after he landed in Delhi on his deportation from the United States to India.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma of Delhi court sent Anmol, an accused in the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique in Mumbai last year, to 11 days of NIA custody on the agency’s plea seeking 15-day custodial interrogation of the accused. At that time Baba Siddique’s murder, Lawrence Bishnoi was lodged in the high-security Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
The accused had been on the run since 2022 and is the 19th person held in the NIA’s terror-gangster conspiracy case. He was charged in March 2023 for allegedly helping his brother and designated “terrorist” Goldy Brar carry out terror activities between 2020 and 2023.
According to the NIA, Anmol continued to operate the Bishnoi network from the U.S., coordinating with gang members in India, arranging shelter and logistics for shooters, and running extortion rackets from abroad.
His alleged aide, Shubu Lonkar, had claimed responsibility for the killing of baba Siddique through a Facebook post, linking it to the death of Anuj Thapan, who was arrested by the Mumbai police for allegedly opening fire in front of the house of the Bollywood actor Salman Khan on April 14, 2024. It was said Thapan, while in police custody, died by suicide.
Hours after Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead by three men in Mumbai’s Nirmal Nagar area on October 12, Shubuu Lonkar alias Shubham Lonkar claimed responsibility on Facebook. Sources claimed Lonkar was a close associate of lawyer-turned gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
Investigations had revealed that Instagram and Snapchat were used for communication. Multiple reconnaissance were conducted in cars and bikes to track Siddique’s movements in Bandra. The operation was led by Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, who directed the team — a typical Bishnoi gang tactic where handlers issue orders while Bishnoi manages the operations.
Exactly two-and-a-half years ago, popular Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala was killed by the Bishnoi gang. At least 24 shots were pumped into his body in Mansa district of Punjab. He was closely being watched by Goldy Brar, one of Bishnoi’s oldest friends and associates who operates from Canada. This crime syndicate built by Bishnoi runs deep in India and beyond.
In Fazilka, Bishnoi’s village, Lawrence is remembered as a “well-behaved boy who never picked fights.” He came from a well-to-do family of zamindars. The Villagers say he fell into the criminal world after he left the village. It was in 2008 when Robin Brar, one of Bishnoi’s friends stood for student council elections, and to threaten the rival candidate, Bishnoi fired at him, using a friend’s revolver. He was sent to jail on attempted murder charge which launched his career into the crime world. In 2012, after graduating from college, he had both friends and enemies, and a gang.
Satinderjit Singh, alias Satwinder or Goldy Brar, left India to run a syndicate and seek sophisticated weapons. He was linked to Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, through Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa — both connected to Babbar Khalsa International, a banned Khalistani militant organisation. This group infamously bombed Air India Flight 182 from Montreal to New Delhi, using an IED that destroyed the aircraft in Irish airspace, killing 329 passengers.
NIA sources claim the Bishnoi syndicate subsequently got associated with pro-Khalistani elements due to their wide base across States, availability of shooters and an easy availability of funds.
Bishnoi in connivance with Brar, built a syndicate in north India. Later, Sachin Thapan, Anmol Bishnoi, Vikramjit Singh, Kala Jatheri, and Kala Rana created a network of 700 associates and members in 10 years. While being active in Delhi, M.P., Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and U.P., on ground, young men with a weak socio-economic background, hit by unemployment or drug addiction, usually in the age group of 18 to 25, are lured by the handlers for easy money. They are lured with a ticket to Canada or the U.S. or to live a lavish lifestyle like a gangster.
Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are extensively used to promote the criminal activities. Currently lodged in the Sabarmati central jail, located in Ahmedabad, Bishnoi, who has more than 80 criminal cases in his dossier, continues to remain active.
He is adept at operating from inside the jail. He has not even applied for bail in any case for many years. A considerable part of the money generated through these extortion activities is sent to Canada, the U.S., Dubai, Thailand and Australia for the use of their abroad-based associates and family members and to fund pro-Khalistan extremists, the NIA said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
