Lawrence Bishnoi, currently incarcerated in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati jail, has consistently masked his violent activities under the guise of righteousness and moral activism. Operating within a network that portrays itself as champions of causes such as wildlife protection, workers’ rights, and justice, Bishnoi and his associates engage in activities including extortion, shootings, and assassinations. This facade not only enhances Bishnoi’s reputation among his supporters but also instills fear, blurring the distinction between criminal acts and supposed crusades.
One prominent example is the ongoing feud with Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Dating back to 1998 when Khan faced charges related to the poaching of blackbucks, revered animals in the Bishnoi community, Bishnoi, a devout follower of principles emphasizing wildlife conservation, has justified his threats as a sacred obligation. In April 2024, shots were fired outside Khan’s residence in Mumbai by Bishnoi’s gang members, citing retribution for the alleged sacrilege.
Recent incidents further underscore this modus operandi, with the gang leveraging the notion of ‘justice’ to rationalize their transnational acts of terror. For instance, the repeated attacks on Kapil Sharma’s cafe, Kap’s Cafe, in Surrey, Canada, with Bishnoi’s associates Kulveer Sidhu and Goldy Dhillon claiming responsibility in a social media post, warning those who cross them and even hinting at reprisals against Bollywood figures who criticize their beliefs.
In a separate incident in early October 2025, Goldy Dhillon, an associate of Bishnoi, took credit for drive-by shootings at three Surrey locations linked to an Indian restaurant chain, alleging mistreatment of female employees and salary disputes. These actions were framed as responses to perceived moral transgressions by the targeted businesses.
Similarly, past events such as the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022, allegedly orchestrated by Bishnoi’s gang, were tied to intergang conflicts and perceived betrayals. Bishnoi’s associates in Canada were also implicated in the killing of individuals connected to separatist movements, positioning Bishnoi as an anti-separatist figure.
Unlike traditional criminals who evade culpability, Bishnoi openly acknowledges his involvement in criminal activities, often using social media to communicate his gang’s actions while cloaking them in a veneer of righteousness. This rhetoric, blending environmental concerns, labor advocacy, and cultural identity, serves to conceal the gang’s extensive extortion operations. Following Canada’s designation of the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization in September, concerns persist regarding the group’s recruitment tactics, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals through social media promises of moral justification. Until concerted international efforts dismantle this facade of nobility, the cycle of violence is likely to persist.