Rise of Extrajudicial Killings in India & BISHNOI Gang
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NOVEMBER 2024
It is a serious matter concerning the killing of influential politician Baba Siddiqui on 12th October 2024. He was a key figure in Maharashtra's coalition government, and this has sparked a wave of speculations and blame.
While the motive behind the murder remains unclear, the incident certainly brings back memories of the 1990s in India, a time when politicians and film stars were frequent targets of Mumbai's underworld.
Now, several theories are circulating, some pointing to organized crime groups linked to the entertainment industry, namely Bollywood. Others are suggesting political connections.
But perhaps the most intriguing speculation involves Baba Siddiqui's close ties with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
Salman Khan has been in the crosshairs of the Bishnoi gang and there are reported links to the Black Buck poaching case of 1998, with charges framed against him under Sections 9 and 51 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It has dodged Salman Khan for years.
The animosity is going on between Salman Khan and the Bishnoi gang, thus.
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The gang has allegedly built a network of over 700 members, and they are operating not just in India but internationally too
The Bishnoi gang is led by Lawrence Bishnoi and surprisingly, he is currently imprisoned in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat since 2015, yet he has openly claimed responsibility for Siddiqui's killing.
His gang is also said to have made an attempt on Salman Khan's life recently.
But then today, why is everyone pointing fingers at the Bishnoi gang?
It's not just that their criminal activities are rampant in India but their reach extends abroad as well.
The gang has allegedly built a network of over 700 members, and they are operating not just in India but internationally too.
In fact, the Canadian government has linked the Bishnoi gang to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , who was a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
The accusation has escalated diplomatic tensions between India and Canada , resulting in the expulsion of diplomats from both nations.
Such is the seriousness of the Bishnoi gang.
Back to India, this trend of extrajudicial killings and encounters is raising serious concerns.
From the killings of Atiq Ahmed, broadcasted live on television in April 2023, to the death of gangster Vikas Dubey in an encounter in July 2020, it seems there is a trend.
Both these cases are from Uttar Pradesh.
It seems public sentiment is shifting toward normalization.
In many cases, there is little public outcry likely because these victims of encounters and extrajudicial killings were feared gangsters and criminals.
The pertinent question is – is this how India is going to really serve justice?
These are the high-profile murders and encounters that India is grappling with.
One thing is clear, public opinion appears to be overriding the spirit of justice and that is where the problem lies.
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...trend of extrajudicial killings and encounters is raising serious concerns
When people celebrate , or remain silent about, the death of a gangster in this particular way, it signals a troubling shift in public expectation.
It shows the significance of growing reliance on vigilante-style justice rather than a proper pristine legal system.
We have seen this trend in other parts of the world also.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the Americas saw gang violence ruling the streets. In the most recent history of Mexico, spanning approximately 30 years, drug cartels operate in defiance of the rule of law.
In South Asian countries too, political assassinations are not uncommon, and they are attributed to actions of spy agencies.
With these lessons from history from other parts of the world, is India also headed down the same path?
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It seems public sentiment is shifting toward normalization
There is another perspective here.
If India is adapting a strategy of extrajudicial killings, the long-term consequences could be dangerous, especially when referring to the Canadian government's allegation of an assassination in Canada, linking it to the Indian government.
The trend will not only be consequential, but it could also be disastrous to India’s position on the world stage.
It threatens to destabilize not only the internal peace of India but also the fabric of its religious and social harmony.
In this connected world, news and misinformation carry weight, irrespective of accuracy, and move faster than the speed of thought.
Therefore, it is necessary to take a hard look at what's unfolding.
If the Bishnoi gang is really involved, as they claim, in the assassination of singer Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022, the shootout at Salman Khan's residence in April 2024, followed by the recent killing of Baba
Siddiqui and the criminal activity on international soil, such as the assassination of Hardeep Singh in Canada, these incidents raise a crucial and concerning question.
What's the relevance of jails in India?
The gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi is lodged in jail in Gujarat, yet the gang continues to operate, execute complex violent operations both within India and abroad.
This brazen activity across geographies speaks volumes about the state of the Indian justice system.
If criminals can control and direct dangerous extrajudicial killings from behind the bars, then what does this reflect about the strength of the prison infrastructure in India?
It's almost a mockery.
The fact that such high-profile and intricate crimes are being coordinated from within the prison walls exposes serious vulnerabilities in the Indian justice system.
It suggests that the very institution meant to contain criminal activities is now powerless or worse complicit.
What's happening is more than just a series of murders or attempted assassinations.
It is a deepening crisis that is eroding public faith in the justice system.
How can an ordinary citizen trust in law and order when even the most dangerous criminals seem to operate with impunity?
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In this connected world, news and misinformation carry weight, irrespective of accuracy, and move faster than the speed of thought
If jails are unable to contain the influence of gang leaders, then is the Indian legal system and penal system equipped to handle the rising
wave of organized crimes or is it time for a serious overhaul to restore credibility and control? Ultimately , these trends in violence, which are now high-profile, will, in the future, spill over into a common man's life.
Hence the stakes are high.
If this trend continues, it not only threatens India's internal security but also tarnishes India's image of a diverse society, of unity in diversity, India's image of a cohesive society on the global stage.
Therefore, it's time for tough questions and more importantly tougher reforms.
For India to be taken seriously as a mature democracy and stable nation, justice must prevail through proper channels and the courts, definitely not by the guns.
As India faces a crossroad of political and criminal assassinations, outside the rule of law, the need for strong transparent justice becomes even greater.
The lesson from history, spanning the Americas of the 1920s and 1930s to modern Mexico, teaches us that crimes cannot be defeated by crime.
Violence only leads to more violence.
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