The firing at Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area has brought Salman Khan back into the spotlight in the ongoing threats linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. A social media post attributed to people claiming to represent the gang has taken responsibility for the shooting and warned members of the film industry who work with Salman.

An audio message also demands an apology from Salman to Lawrence Bishnoi and the Bishnoi community. However, Mumbai Police has not confirmed the gang’s involvement in the attack.

Salman Khan’s connection to the incident centres on his long-running conflict with Lawrence Bishnoi and the gang’s repeated threats against the actor. The alleged connection to the Tiger Shroff shooting comes from the gang’s purported claim that Shroff had ignored warnings and from its threat to target people who work with Salman.

Why has the Bishnoi gang targeted Salman Khan?

The dispute dates back to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community regards blackbucks as sacred and has a longstanding tradition of wildlife protection. Salman Khan was convicted by a Jodhpur court in 2018 in the blackbuck case. His conviction was challenged in court.

Lawrence Bishnoi has previously threatened Salman Khan and demanded an apology to the Bishnoi community over the case. The gang’s latest reported audio message repeats that demand and warns that security arrangements will not necessarily protect the actor.

Why was Tiger Shroff allegedly targeted?

In a social media post attributed to Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, individuals claiming to represent the Lawrence Bishnoi group said Tiger Shroff had been warned earlier but had failed to heed the warning. The post also threatened others in the film industry who work with Salman Khan.

However, Mumbai Police has not confirmed that the Bishnoi gang was responsible for the shooting. Investigators are examining the claim alongside physical evidence, CCTV footage and other leads. The alleged motive should therefore not be treated as established fact.

What happened in the Juhu shooting?

Three motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at a car carrying Tiger Shroff in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening, October 18. Reports differ on the number of rounds fired, with accounts citing three to seven shots.

Shroff survived the incident, while his driver and a bystander were reportedly injured by gunfire. Police recovered a motorcycle believed to have been used by the attackers and detained a suspect for questioning. Multiple teams have been formed to identify the assailants and establish the motive.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the police to investigate the shooting and take action against those responsible. The investigation remains ongoing.

The latest threat also recalls the April 14, 2024, firing outside Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area. Two men on a motorcycle fired shots outside the building. The incident was investigated in connection with the wider threat against the actor, which authorities have linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The Tiger Shroff incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of actors and others in the film industry. Whether the shooting was directly connected to Salman Khan or the blackbuck dispute will depend on the findings of the Mumbai Police investigation.

The purported gang message appears to extend its intimidation beyond Salman Khan to people who work with him. If investigators establish that the shooting was linked to the threat, it would raise serious questions about the targeting of associates as a means of pressuring a high-profile individual.

For now, the distinction between a gang’s claim and a verified police finding is crucial. The shooting, injuries and recovery of a suspected getaway motorcycle are matters being investigated; the gang’s responsibility and the precise motive have not been officially established.