By Sanjeev Kumar Patro

Bhubaneswar: The shooting down of socialite-politician Baba Siddique dead in Mumbai in front of his office allegedly by Lawrence Bishnoi gang has put the spotlight on the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi – the new Dawood Ibrahim in making.

A resident of Bahaw wala, Fazilka district in Punjab, Lawrence had been a student of DAV College, Chandigarh, and had an active involvement in Students Organisation of Punjab University. This pops up his political teeth to fore. Holding a law degree, the gangster utilises law book tricks to the hilt to stay in safe hideout – jails in Rajasthan or Tihar in Delhi. 

In the aftermath of Vikas Dubey encounter by UP police in 2020, Lawrence Bishnoi knocked Punjab and Haryana High Court, put into use the law book tricks to the hilt to secure a bullet proof/ armoured vehicle for his transit remand to Chandigarh police. Sample the case study.

HC ORDERED LAWRENCE BISHNOI TO BE TAKEN IN BULLET PROOF VEHICLE

Year 2020, when Punjab and Haryana Police wanted Lawrence Bishnoi to be taken into police custody for interrogation, the gangster filed a petition before Punjab and Haryana High Court pleading interrogation via video conferencing, when Haryana and Punjab police sought his custodial inetrrogation in a case of revenge killing. 

The legal team of Bishnoi cited the Vikas Dubey encounter bogey to secure win-win conditions for the gangster. The High Court has ordered bullet proof vehicle for transit. Sample the win-win verdict for the gangster.

• Year 2020, December 21. Single judge bench of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill while refused the plea of police interrogation via video conferencing, had laid down certain conditions to address the encounter bogey plea of Bishnoi.
• The accused shall be brought in a bullet-proof or armoured vehicle duly escorted by armed trained commandos, armed with sophisticated arms and ammunition. 
• Since the petitioner himself wishes to be brought duly handcuffed, it is directed that the petitioner shall be duly handcuffed and shackled during transit which would be helpful for the police as well as for the accused. 
• The entire operation shall be monitored and supervised by DIG, U.T. Chandigarh.

MODUS OPERANDI

The petition of Lawrence Bishnoi had a modus operandi. First, His legal team tried best to avoid custodial interrogation. Lastly, they played all the law book tricks to foil any encounter threat. The salient points of modus operandi LLB given below.

• The modus operandi behind Bishnoi seeking interrogation via video conferencing is to avoid face to face with police.
• In case of Lawrence Bishnoi, police have no direct evidences. The hand of the law tightens noose around him via custodial confessions from arrested criminals or shooters. 
• The fear for face to face interrogation is to avoid investigators collect evidences through psyche study, watching body demeanour, eye blinks or sighs or foot movement.
• Stating in the plea that the gangster will go on transit remand handcuffed and shackled, the legal team ensured the zero chances of encounter. The undertone has been that a handcuffed and shackled prisoner cannot set himself free by firing at cops.  
• By getting the favourable order of transiting him in bullet proof or armoured vehicle with commandos, the legal team of Bishnoi ensured no risk of shoot out by rival gangs and cops playing mut spectator role.

WHY LAWRENCE PREFER JAILS? 

Sitting in prison cell, he uses VoIP calls (means calling over broadband internet than on any regular phone line) to communicate with his associates. This is done to not leave any trail of evidence. Jails outside Punjab are safe for the dreaded gangster. It suited his game-plan. As per the case records available with Punjab and Haryana police, Lawrence always played from the background. Neither there is fear of encounter from police or life bid by rival gang, as long as he is in prison.