In a shocking incident that has once again cast a spotlight on the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Baba Siddique, a prominent politician and close associate of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, was gunned down outside his Mumbai office on October 12, 2024. The murder, which the Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for, marks a chilling escalation in its violent feud with Khan, raising alarms about further targeted attacks.
A Deadly Vendetta
Lawrence Bishnoi, currently imprisoned in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, harbors a deep-seated grudge against Salman Khan, stemming from the actor’s involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The Bishnoi community, to which Bishnoi belongs, considers the blackbuck sacred. Khan’s acquittal in the case has fueled Bishnoi’s personal vendetta, and since 2018, he has issued multiple threats against the actor. During one court appearance, Bishnoi infamously vowed, “Salman Khan will be killed here in Jodhpur,” a statement that has echoed ominously over the years.
In recent months, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) uncovered documents that reveal Bishnoi’s continued fixation on Salman Khan. The actor tops a hit list compiled by the gang leader, with reports indicating that reconnaissance was carried out around Khan’s Mumbai residence earlier this year. Though security forces foiled this assassination attempt, a subsequent shooting incident at Khan’s home in April 2024 underscored the very real danger looming over him.
The Murder of Baba Siddique: A Grim Signal
Baba Siddique’s assassination, however, is more than just another violent crime. As a close friend of Khan, Siddique’s murder sends a chilling message, hinting at the Bishnoi gang’s willingness to strike not only at their primary target but also at those associated with him. The brazen attack outside Siddique’s office is seen as both a revenge killing and a warning—one that has already prompted heightened security around Khan.
With his death, the focus shifts to Siddique’s son, Zeeshan Siddique, who is reportedly also a target due to his ties with Khan. Investigators believe the gunmen who murdered Baba Siddique may have been plotting to kill his son as well, further exposing the reach of the gang’s operations.
The Bishnoi Gang’s Hit List
The assassination of Baba Siddique is just the latest move in a broader pattern of violence orchestrated by Lawrence Bishnoi and his associates. The gang has compiled a hit list targeting several high-profile figures across India, connected either by personal vendettas or rivalries within the criminal underworld. Some of the key names on Bishnoi’s hit list include:
- Salman Khan: The Bollywood superstar remains Bishnoi’s primary target due to his involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The Bishnoi community holds the blackbuck sacred, and Khan’s actions have fueled Bishnoi’s wrath for years. Khan has faced multiple threats, with one attempt on his life thwarted earlier this year.
- Shaganpreet Singh: Former manager of the late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, Shaganpreet is targeted by Bishnoi for allegedly providing refuge to the killers of Vicky Middukhera, a close associate of Bishnoi who was murdered in 2021.
- Munawar Faruqui: The comedian and winner of Bigg Boss 17 is on the hit list due to Bishnoi’s belief that Faruqui disrespected the gang’s associates. Intelligence agencies recently foiled an attempt to target Faruqui during an event in Delhi.
- Zeeshan Siddique: The son of Baba Siddique is reportedly under threat following his father’s assassination, as the gang seeks to target those in close association with Salman Khan.
- Kaushal Chaudhary: A gangster affiliated with the rival Bambiha gang, Chaudhary is accused of providing weapons to the killers of Bishnoi’s associate Vicky Middukhera. He has been marked for elimination.
- Amit Dagar: Another gangster who played a role in Vicky Middukhera’s murder, Dagar is currently incarcerated but remains a target due to his links to rival criminal factions.
- Mandeep Dhariwal: An associate of absconding gangster Gaurav Padial, Dhariwal had been involved in activities against Bishnoi’s network. Dhariwal was killed in the Philippines in a suspected gang-linked operation.
Rising Stakes
For many, the murder of Baba Siddique serves as a grim reminder of the escalating violence that has come to define the Lawrence Bishnoi gang’s operations. What began as a vendetta over a decades-old wildlife case has morphed into a broad criminal enterprise capable of carrying out targeted killings, instilling fear not only in their targets but also in their communities.
As investigations into Siddique’s assassination unfold, the connection between the Bishnoi gang, political figures, and the entertainment industry is expected to deepen. What remains clear is that Salman Khan, a towering figure in Bollywood, remains at the heart of Bishnoi’s wrath, with every new development raising the stakes of this dangerous feud.
For now, security forces are on high alert, working to prevent further bloodshed. However, with a growing list of high-profile targets and an emboldened criminal network, the specter of violence continues to hang heavy over Mumbai.
