5 arrested for supplying arms to Lawrence Bishnoi gang

In a significant breakthrough, the Fazilka police have arrested five members of an arms smuggling gang that supplied weapons to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The arrests were made between October 15 and 25, following a series of investigations and raids.

The accused, including Manpreet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Avinash alias Gagan, Akash, and Jaspreet Singh, were caught with pistols, magazines, and live cartridges.

SSP Varinder Singh Brar said that during the interrogation Manpreet confessed that he, along with other gang members, smuggled arms from Madhya Pradesh.

Manpreet confessed that he sold 2 pistols to one Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Bathinda district, for Rs 35,000 per pistol.

Later, the police arrested Sandeep Singh along with one pistol and a magazine on October 18. Akash and Jaspreet were held with country-made pistol and 10 live cartridges on October 19, while Avinash was arrested on October 25.

The SSP said that Akash confessed that he came into contact with Lawrence Bishnoi when they both were lodged in the Faridkot jail in different cases in 2011-12. He allegedly used to give massages to Bishnoi in the jail, became his disciple and got a tattoo of his name (Bishnoi) on his chest.

After being released from the jail, Akash, Manpreet, Avinash and others joined hands and supplied arms to Kalu and Bhalu of Abohar areas, allegedly having allegiance with the Bishnoi gang.

Notably, Bishnoi belonged to the Dutaranwali village of the Abohar subdivision.

The police are still searching for Kaka and Bhalu, who are allegedly affiliated with the Bishnoi gang and have pending criminal cases against them.