Tiger Shroff firing: Juvenile among 3 arrested. Who is Lawrence Bishnoi and why is Salman Khan’s circle targeted?

New Delhi: A juvenile and two other men suspected of opening fire at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai have been arrested in Rajasthan’s Kota. Police are investigating a social media post purportedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang that claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened people in the film industry associated with Salman Khan.

The three accused, Phool Singh, 17, Hrithik Kumar alias Roshan, 22, and Rehan, 18, were arrested at Kota railway station by a joint team of Rajasthan’s anti gangster task force and Kota City Police, IANS reported. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and the suspects’ alleged roles in the attack.

The gang’s involvement in the shooting has not been verified. However, the incident has renewed attention on Bishnoi’s alleged criminal network, its threats against Khan and the 2024 murder of politician Baba Siddique, a close friend of the actor.

Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?

Lawrence Bishnoi is an imprisoned gangster who is involved in many criminal cases, such as murder, extortion, and organized crime. The investigating agencies have traced his criminal network in various parts of India as well as overseas.

Bishnoi is currently kept in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Central Jail. Despite his imprisonment, investigators have alleged that associates outside prison continue to operate parts of his network.

The feud between Bishnoi and Salman Khan dates back to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan. The blackbuck is considered sacred by the Bishnoi community, which has a long tradition of protecting wildlife. Gangster has repeatedly threatened Khan and demanded an apology over the incident. In 2018, he publicly threatened to kill the actor while appearing before a court in Jodhpur.

The threats escalated in April 2024, when motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire outside Khan’s Galaxy Apartments residence in Mumbai. Investigators subsequently examined the alleged involvement of Bishnoi’s network in the attack.

Why was Salman Khan’s friend Baba Siddique killed?

Baba Siddique, who had served as an ex-minister of Maharashtra and NCP, was murdered near his son’s office in Bandra locality of Mumbai on October 12, 2024. Baba Siddique is well known for being associated with Khan and other personalities of the Bollywood film fraternity.

In its chargesheet, Mumbai Police said Siddique had allegedly been targeted partly because of his proximity to Khan. Investigators also pointed to the alleged aim of expanding the gang’s influence in Mumbai.

The killing raised concerns that people associated with Khan could also become targets amid the gang’s threats. However, the allegations in the chargesheet must be distinguished from claims circulated by the gang itself.

What happened in the Tiger Shroff firing?

It is believed that the gang uses intimidation through violence to scare prominent persons into helping them expand their influence and engage in extortion activities. This would not only add to the pressures being exerted on the celebrity but also bring the gang into the limelight. But the motive for each attack needs to be ascertained separately.

In the latest incident, the social media message alleged that the actor had ignored warnings. Police are verifying the message and have not established whether Bishnoi or his associates ordered the shooting.

The shooting took place around 7pm on Sunday near Pushpa Narsee Park in Mumbai’s Juhu area. Motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at Shroff’s car as he was leaving a football ground.

The Maharashtra deputy chief minister, Eknath Shinde, said five rounds were fired. Shroff escaped gunshot injuries but sustained minor injuries to his left hand from gunpowder and broken glass, while his driver and a bystander were also injured.

The arrests have not established the Bishnoi gang’s involvement. Police are yet to verify the claim of responsibility and determine who ordered the shooting.