Bollywood star Salman Khan faces renewed threats from the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, reigniting a long-standing feud rooted in the blackbuck poaching case.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan has been at the center of a dangerous conflict with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for years, a feud stemming from a 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community, which holds the blackbuck sacred, has long harboured a deep resentment against Khan, who was accused of killing the animal during the filming of “Hum Saath-Saath Hain.” While the actor was later acquitted, the grudge has persisted, particularly with Lawrence Bishnoi, the leader of a notorious criminal gang. Bishnoi has repeatedly expressed his desire for revenge, making Khan a prime target of his wrath. This ongoing enmity has now escalated once again, with fresh threats being issued against the actor’s life.
New Threat Against Salman Khan
In a chilling new development, Salman Khan has been issued a death threat, allegedly from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The gang has demanded that the actor pay ₹5 crore to “end the enmity” with Bishnoi. The threat was delivered via a WhatsApp message sent to the Mumbai Traffic Police, warning that if the ransom is not paid, the actor’s fate would be worse than that of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, who was recently murdered, allegedly at the hands of the Bishnoi gang.
The message reportedly stated, “If Salman Khan wants to stay alive and end the enmity with Lawrence Bishnoi, he must pay ₹5 crore. If the money is not given, his condition will be worse than Baba Siddique’s.” This threat has further heightened security concerns around the actor, who has been the target of several threats from the gang in the past.
Increased Security and Police Investigation
In response to this latest threat, the Mumbai Police have ramped up security around Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra and have launched an investigation to trace the origins of the message. Khan’s safety has been a top priority since previous threats emerged, and this new threat has only deepened concerns for the actor’s well-being.
The investigation into the Bishnoi gang’s activities has also seen significant progress. Recently, the Navi Mumbai Police arrested a key member of the gang, Sukha alias Sukhbir Balbir Singh, in Haryana’s Panipat. Singh has been linked to an alleged plot to assassinate Khan and reportedly had direct contact with Dogar, a Pakistan-based handler. Police sources revealed that the gang intended to use high-powered firearms, including AK-47s and M16s smuggled from Pakistan, to carry out the attack.
Singh’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on the Bishnoi gang’s conspiracy against Salman Khan. Earlier this year, the Navi Mumbai Police registered an FIR against 18 gang members for plotting to kill the actor. Among the accused are high-profile members, including Lawrence Bishnoi himself, his brother Anmol Bishnoi, Goldie Brar, Sampat Nehra, and Rohit Godhara, all of whom are linked to organized criminal activities across North India.
The Long-Standing Feud Between Salman Khan and the Bishnoi Community
Salman Khan’s enmity with the Bishnoi community, and by extension the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, traces back to the 1998 blackbuck poaching incident. The Bishnoi community reveres the blackbuck as a sacred animal, and the actor’s alleged involvement in its killing has made him a lifelong enemy in their eyes. Lawrence Bishnoi, now a feared gangster, has taken this issue personally, vowing to seek revenge for what he views as a grave insult to his community’s beliefs.
Despite being acquitted by the courts, Khan has been under constant threat from the Bishnoi gang. In 2022, a letter was found near Khan’s residence in Mumbai, threatening his life, and in 2023, an email allegedly from gang members warned that they were planning to kill him. The latest development marks a dangerous escalation in the feud, with the gang allegedly going to great lengths, including surveillance and recruiting sharpshooters, to monitor Khan’s movements.
Recent Arrests and Gang Surveillance
The police investigation has uncovered disturbing details about the gang’s surveillance operations on Salman Khan. Reports suggest that the Bishnoi gang deployed around 60 to 70 operatives to track the actor’s whereabouts. These individuals conducted surveillance at Khan’s Bandra residence, his Panvel farmhouse, and even at his shooting locations. In a bold move, the gang attempted to recruit minors to act as sharpshooters for the planned assassination.
The arrest of Sukha Singh and other gang members has provided crucial insights into the gang’s operations. It was revealed that Singh had been plotting the attack for months, and his arrest is a significant breakthrough in preventing the plan from materializing.
Ongoing Threats and Public Reaction
Despite the arrests, Salman Khan continues to live under the shadow of death threats from the Bishnoi gang. His ex-girlfriend, Somy Ali, even made headlines recently for posting an invitation on social media to Lawrence Bishnoi, asking him for a Zoom call to resolve the matter. Ali’s unusual public appeal to the gangster adds a layer of intrigue to the already complex and dangerous situation surrounding the actor.
With the police intensifying their investigation and tightening security, Salman Khan remains vigilant, but the question lingers: Will this latest threat mark the end of the long-standing enmity, or is it just the beginning of more dangerous attempts on his life? For now, the Bollywood superstar faces an uncertain and perilous future.
(With inputs from agencies)
