Is Lawrence Bishnoi the new head of Mumbai’s underworld?

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has issued lookout notices against Shivakumar Gautam, Shubham Lonkar (a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang), and Jalandhar-based criminal Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, in connection with the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique. A gun and bike, suspected to have been used in the crime, were recovered just 250 meters away from the crime scene.

With the decline of major underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan, Mumbai’s underworld has splintered into smaller and more fragmented gangs. As violent clashes have decreased, these groups have turned their attention to economic crimes. Retired police officials have expressed concern about the growing power of these smaller gangs. The presence of Lawrence Bishnoi in Mumbai is seen as a sign of this trend. Previously, D-Company dominated Bollywood, but now, Bishnoi’s threats against Salman Khan and the murder of Baba Siddique, a politician with close ties to Bollywood, indicate a shift. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandhan noted that while the underworld’s influence may have diminished, Mumbai is facing new threats.

Bishnoi gang recruiting rural youth

The Bishnoi gang primarily recruits young men from rural areas, offering them money, protection, and status within the gang. Even though Bishnoi and his close associates are in jail, they continue to orchestrate murders. Mumbai police have also indicated that Bishnoi's operations have links with arms suppliers in Pakistan. His gang is now considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in India, with around 700 members across the country. The Bishnoi gang's next move appears to be establishing Mumbai as a major base.

Private securities provide protection

Many retired Mumbai police officers have started private security services, providing protection to Bollywood stars, corporate leaders, and politicians. Most of these private security personnel are retired military or police officers.

A A Khan, a former senior officer in the Mumbai police who later became active in politics, founded the leading security agency Vigilant Services Private Limited. They have a team of over 6,000 security officers across India. Other former police officers like Rakesh Maria, D. Sivanandhan , and Pradeep Sharma have also launched similar ventures. Key players in this field include Secure First and TopsGrup, two prominent security firms.