New Delhi: The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has not only claimed responsibility for the murder of Baba Siddique but has also issued a threat to anyone assisting actor Salman Khan, warning they will be targeted. Shots were previously fired near Khan’s home as a warning.
Following the killing of Baba Siddique, a three-time MLA and former Maharashtra minister, near the office of his son Zeeshan Siddique in Bandra East on Saturday night, speculation arose about the Bishnoi gang’s involvement. This was confirmed on Sunday through a Facebook post by Shubuu Lonkar, believed to be an alias of gang member Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar, who is currently in jail. The post was made by his brother, Pravin Lonkar, who was arrested on Sunday evening.
In the post, Lonkar claimed Siddique was killed due to his links with India’s most-wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, his association with Salman Khan, and the death of Anuj Thapan, an arrested suspect in the shooting outside Khan’s house who died in police custody. Thapan was found dead in the Mumbai Crime Branch lock-up on May 1, with police calling it a suicide, although his family alleged he was tortured.
“We have no personal enmity with anyone, but whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang should settle their accounts (‘hisab-kitaab kar lena’),” Lonkar wrote in Hindi. Police are currently investigating the authenticity of the post.
Siddique, known for hosting high-profile events, notably helped resolve a five-year feud between Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan at his 2013 iftar party.
Police sources revealed that since last year, at least two celebrities with ties to Salman Khan have been targeted by the Bishnoi gang. Khan visited Siddique at the hospital after the shooting and later paid his respects at his residence.
In November 2023, the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for a shooting at Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal’s home in Vancouver, Canada, after Grewal praised Salman Khan. Similarly, in September 2024, shots were fired near the house of another Punjabi singer, AP Dhillon, after his song video ‘Old Money’ featured Salman Khan.
Why is Salman Khan a target?
The Bishnoi gang gained notoriety after the 2022 murder of musician Sidhu Moose Wala. They have expressed a desire to kill Salman Khan over his alleged involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Jodhpur during the filming of ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain.’ The blackbuck is considered sacred by the Bishnoi community.
Lawrence Bishnoi has been vocal about his intent to kill Khan since 2018, stating during a court appearance, “We will kill Salman Khan in Jodhpur. Once we act, everyone will know.”
Increased Security Measures
Security around Salman Khan’s residence, Galaxy Apartments in Bandra, has been heightened after an April 14 firing incident. Khan later told police that he believed the Bishnoi gang was behind the attack, with the intention of harming him and his family.
Additional security measures have also been implemented in South Mumbai’s Malabar Hill, where the residences of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are located. Baba Siddique, a long-time Congress member, had joined Ajit Pawar’s party earlier this year.
