The Rise of India's Most Notorious Gangster and the Global Trail of Violence

In recent years, a name has repeatedly surfaced in India’s most sensational criminal cases: Lawrence Bishnoi. Once a student leader, Bishnoi now stands as the alleged mastermind behind a vast criminal syndicate, with operations stretching from India to Canada and the Middle East. Accused of orchestrating brutal murders, extortion rings, and international arms deals, Bishnoi has emerged as one of the most feared figures in India's modern criminal landscape.

For American readers, his trajectory resembles that of infamous mob bosses like El Chapo or John Gotti except this story is unfolding today, in real time, and its ripple effects are increasingly global.

From Politics to Prisons: The Making of a Gang Leader

Born in 1992 in Abohar, Punjab, Lawrence Bishnoi belonged to a well-off family and pursued a law degree at Panjab University in Chandigarh. It was during his student days that Bishnoi first tasted power and influence initially through student elections. However, politics soon gave way to crime.

Bishnoi formed a gang of followers, initially engaging in local brawls, intimidation, and gunrunning. As his influence grew, so did the scope of his operations. He was involved in land disputes, extortion of businessmen, and violent clashes with rival gangs especially the Bambiha gang, a rival criminal outfit.

Murder of Sidhu Moose Wala: A Turning Point

The murder that catapulted Bishnoi into global headlines was the assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022. Moose Wala, a popular and controversial figure known for songs glamorizing weapons and violence, was gunned down in a daylight ambush in Punjab.

The murder shocked the nation and soon, Bishnoi’s gang claimed responsibility on social media. Though Bishnoi was in jail at the time, investigations pointed to him as the mastermind, with the hit allegedly ordered as revenge for Moose Wala’s ties to rival gangsters.

The planning and execution of the murder were disturbingly efficient. Gunmen used military-grade assault rifles and GPS tracking to carry out the ambush. Subsequent investigations found connections between the shooters and associates of Bishnoi in Canada and Dubai.

A Network That Spans Continents

Bishnoi’s gang isn’t just limited to India. His alleged network spans Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Southeast Asia, where his aides handle drug trafficking, arms procurement, and cross-border money laundering. Indian intelligence has raised alarms over the gang's ties to Khalistani extremist groups operating from Canada an issue that has increasingly strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In 2023, the Canadian government investigated Bishnoi’s links to targeted killings on their soil. Several members of his network, such as Goldy Brar, who is believed to have played a role in the Moose Wala killing, reside in North America and operate remotely with encrypted communication tools.

This global nature of the crime ring has drawn comparisons to the Mexican cartels or Eastern European mafias, making Bishnoi’s influence a serious concern for law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Inside Jail, Outside Law

Perhaps most astonishing is how Bishnoi continues to run operations from within prison walls. Indian jails, plagued by corruption and lax oversight, have allowed gangsters like him access to mobile phones, social media, and even press interviews.

In fact, Bishnoi has gained a cult-like status on platforms like Instagram, where fan pages glorify his persona, portraying him as a "Robin Hood" figure standing against corrupt politicians and police brutality. Such romanticization of crime has long been an issue in India, where movies and music often blur the lines between heroism and villainy.

Law Enforcement Struggles and Political Shadows

Bishnoi has been charged in over 20 criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and possession of illegal arms. Despite multiple arrests and court appearances, convictions remain elusive. This failure to convict stems from witness intimidation, lack of digital evidence, and a judiciary weighed down by backlogs.

Furthermore, critics argue that political protection and vote-bank considerations often delay justice in high-profile cases involving gangsters from powerful caste backgrounds or regions.

A Cautionary Tale with Global Implications

Lawrence Bishnoi’s case is more than a true crime saga it is a window into how modern organized crime works. With access to encrypted messaging, transnational operatives, and corrupt systems, today's criminal kingpins operate without borders.

For the United States, where Indian diaspora communities are growing and issues of global crime syndicates loom large, Bishnoi’s story underscores the need for international collaboration on digital surveillance, extradition, and financial tracking.

References

The Times of India, “Who is Lawrence Bishnoi? Gangster behind Sidhu Moose Wala murder,” May 2022

Hindustan Times, “Lawrence Bishnoi: From student politics to global criminal,” June 2023

The Guardian, “The gangster whose gang claimed Sidhu Moose Wala killing,” October 2024

Indian Express, “Inside the mind of India’s most wanted gangster,” December 2023

BBC News, “Lawrence Bishnoi and the growing global threat of Indian organized crime,” January 2024

NDTV, “Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi interviewed from jail: Exposed flaws in Indian prison security,” February 2024