(Image source from: Instagram.com/beingsalmankhan)
The Navi Mumbai Police revealed that the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang had planned to assassinate Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The gang had intended to use a Turkish-made Zigana pistol, the same weapon used in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in 2022. The police closely monitored the gang's online activities, including their WhatsApp and social media groups, eventually arresting four of its members who were plotting an attack near Salman's farmhouse in Panvel. This development followed the earlier arrests made in connection with the shooting incident outside Salman's Bandra residence in Mumbai on April 14. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone II (Panvel), the Panvel police station received intelligence about the conspiracy to harm the actor in September-October last year. The police then infiltrated the Bishnoi gang's digital platforms and closely observed their discussions, discovering that the arrested members had conducted reconnaissance of Salman's farmhouse, his Bandra home, and locations where he filmed. The police also learned that the gang had attempted to procure weapons from abroad for their nefarious plans.
The authorities apprehended (28) from Panvel on April 28. The same day, they took Gaurav Bhatia, also known as Sandeep Bishnoi, into custody in Gujarat, the official stated. The third individual, Vaspi Khan, alias Waseem Chikna, was picked up from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Rizwan Khan, also called Javed Khan, was arrested in Bengaluru, the official added. They have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including conspiracy and criminal intimidation.
Lawrence Bishnoi is currently imprisoned in the Sabarmati central jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, while his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi is believed to be in the United States or Canada. On April 14, two men on a motorcycle fired multiple shots outside Salman Khan's home, Galaxy Apartments, in Mumbai's Bandra. The shooters, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, were apprehended in Gujarat. Sonu Bishnoi and Anuj Thapan, who allegedly provided the weapons to the shooters, were later arrested in Punjab. Thapan reportedly died by suicide in a police lock-up in Navi Mumbai on May 1. The police have registered a case against 17 individuals, including Lawrence Bishnoi and Anmol Bishnoi, in connection with the shooting outside Salman Khan's residence.
