In a dramatic turn of events, Indian police have arrested two members of the notorious Bishnoi gang for their involvement in firing at the residence of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The incident, which took place during the early hours of Sunday, sent shockwaves through the upscale Mumbai neighborhood of Bandra.
The Bishnoi gang, known for its involvement in several murders and extortion rackets, has a longstanding grudge against Khan dating back to 1998. This vendetta stems from Khan’s recreational hunting trip, during which he shot two blackbucks, an act that deeply offended the Bishnoi community. The Bishnois, followers of a desert-based religious sect, consider the blackbuck to be the reincarnation of their revered guru.
Despite being under constant threat, Khan, 58, was at home when the gunmen on a motorbike opened fire at his first-floor apartment. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the shots were fired into the air before the assailants fled the scene.
The two men responsible for the brazen attack, aged 24 and 21, were apprehended by police in the western state of Gujarat. “We were able to locate the two accused near a temple,” stated Mahendra Bagaria, the Kutch district police officer. “One of our teams reached the temple and nabbed the accused.”
This latest incident is part of a long-standing feud between Khan and the Bishnoi gang. In 2018, Khan was sentenced to five years in jail for violating the Wildlife Protection Act due to the blackbuck shooting. However, the penalty was suspended on appeal just days after Khan’s initial imprisonment, prompting threats from the gang’s jailed leader, Lawrence Bishnoi.
Lawrence Bishnoi, who remains incarcerated, had previously warned of dire consequences for Khan. The gang leader has been linked to several high-profile murders, including the killing of popular Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022.
Despite the threats and challenges, Salman Khan remains one of Bollywood’s most bankable figures, having starred in nearly 150 films and television shows since his debut in the 1980s. However, the ongoing feud with the Bishnoi gang serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by some of India’s biggest celebrities.
