Mumbai: A police probe into attempted murder of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has brought to light chilling details of an assassination plot, involving AK-47 and M-16 rifles from Pakistan, minor sharpshooters, and an escape plan to Sri Lanka, media reported.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang allegedly conspired to attack Salman Khans car in Maharashtras Panvel, using weapons procured from a Pakistani arms supplier, reported NDTV.
The intricate murder conspiracy, allegedly hatched by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, included a sophisticated network of operatives and a cache of high-powered weapons.
According to Navi Mumbai police sources, the gang involved 60 to 70 people, each assigned specific roles in executing the plot. Central to the scheme was the use of minors as shooters, aiming to target Salman Khans vehicle in Panvel or his secluded farmhouse, the report said.
Those arrested in connection with the plot include Dhananjay Tapesingh alias Ajay Kashyap, Gaurav Bhatia alias Nahvi, Vapsi Khan alias Waseem Chikna, and Rizwan Khan, all believed to have played key roles. Lawrence Bishnoi, currently in jail, his cousin Anmol Bishnoi, and associate Goldie Brar allegedly facilitated the acquisition of the weapons from a Pakistani dealer known only as Dogar, said the report.
Kashyap, a key gang member, resided in Navi Mumbais Kalamboli and communicated with Sukha Shooter, who used Bishnois photo as his profile picture.
Kashyap and his aides held secret meetings at strategic locations like the Panvel bus stand and railway station to plan their attack, including reconnaissance of Salman Khans properties.
Their operations spanned multiple states and borders, with Kashyaps trail leading to illegal arms depots in Kashmir, Ganganagar, and even near the Pakistan border. Conversations between Kashyap and Bishnoi revealed frequent discussions about weapon exchanges and coordination via WhatsApp calls.
Additionally, after assassinating Salman Khan, Bishnoi and Goldie Brar planned to pay a substantial sum to the hitmen, with funds transferred from Canada.
The gang was prepared to use modern weapons such as AK-47s, M16s, and AK-92s to carry out the assassination, similar to those used in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Gang members were shown these weapons and ammunition via WhatsApp video calls.
Following the attack, the assailants were instructed to flee to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, where they would have been transported by sea to Sri Lanka.
Anmol Bishnoi, based in Canada, had arranged for their safe passage to another country from Sri Lanka.
Further investigations revealed the gangs association with other criminal outfits, such as the organization previously headed by gangster Anand Pal, now overseen by his daughter Chinu.
On April 14, two bike-borne men opened fire outside Salman Khans residence in Mumbais Bandra.
Following this incident, police arrested four suspects: Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal in Gujarat, and Anuj Thapan and another person in Punjab on April 26.
A total of six arrests have been made, although Anuj Thapan died in police custody.
