Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s security beefed up in the wake of Moose Wala’s murder

Mumbai (IANS): Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s security has been stepped up following the murder of Punjabi singer and politician Sidhu Moose Wala.

As per a media report, the strengthening of security comes after gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail, has emerged as the key accused in Moose Wala’s murder.

A senior police official told the media that the Mumbai police has enhanced the overall security of the star to ensure he’s safe from the activities of the Bishnoi gang that operates from Rajasthan.

Salman was earlier on Bishnoi’s radar after the infamous blackbuck poaching case during the shooting of the movie ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’. The Bishnoi community considers the black buck to be a sacred animal and Salman’s involvement in poaching had hurt the community’s sentiments.

iN 2018, Bishnoi had threatened to kill Salman.

Rahul alias Sunni, one of Bishnoi’s close associates arrested in 2020 for murder, said that they had hatched a plan to kill Salman and had even visited Mumbai to conduct a recce for the murder.

Sidhu Moose wala was murdered in Punjab’s Mansa district on Sunday as he was intercepted by assailants while he was driving his jeep.

Salman will be next seen in ‘Tiger 3’ along with Katrina Kaif. He has also been working on ‘Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali’.

 

Director General of Police of Punjab, V.K. Bhawra.

MEANWHILE, in Chandigarh, Punjab Director General of Police V.K. Bhawra on Wednesday strengthened and reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of Additional DGP Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Pramod Ban in Moose Wala’s murder.

Now, the six-member SIT will have a new Chairman, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jaskaran Singh, and two new members — Additional Inspector General AGTF Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mansa, Gaurav Toora.

Superintendent of Police, Investigation, Mansa, Dharamveer Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Investigation, Bathinda, Vishawajeet Singh and in charge Crime Investigating Agency (CIA), Mansa, Prithipal Singh are the other members.

In its fresh orders, the DGP stated that the SIT shall conduct the investigation on a day-to-day basis, arrest the perpetrators of this heinous crime, and on completion of investigation. The SIT can co-opt any other police officer and take the assistance of any expert or officer, with approval of the DGP, the order further reads.

PUNJAB Police have claimed they know the route the culprits used in the murder of Moose Wala, Mansa’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora said on Wednesday.

“We have got input about the route on which the culprits came and escaped after committing the crime. We also have information on how they did a recce of the area before committing this crime,” Toora told the media in Mansa in his first interaction after the crime that occurred on May 29.

He said it was a work of organized criminals and gangsters. “Probe is going fast, we have taken two persons lodged in jails on production warrant and one accused has been arrested. We are interrogating them. Many teams, including technical and cyber crime, are working on various angles.”

The SSP said the police have got vital leads in the case. “It is learnt that Delhi Police have taken Lawrence Bishnoi on remand. The Mansa police will also make him join the probe.”

Punjab Police claim Bishnoi’s gang was behind the murder. At present, Bishnoi is in custody of the Delhi Police’s Special Cell in a case under the Arms Act and other sections related to assault on a public servant.

Punjab Police have described Moose Wala’s murder as a case of an inter-gang rivalry. A Canada-based suspect, who is a member of the Bishnoi gang, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the murder.

The police on Tuesday said they had arrested Manpreet Singh in the case. Singh has been accused of supplying vehicles to the killers.

 

MEANWHILE, Moose Wala’s mother on Wednesday broke down while collecting ashes of her son at Musa village.

Charan Kaur said, “My son’s enemies have reduced my six-foot-tall boy to ashes; now they can enjoy a peaceful sleep.”

Moosewala’s family later left for Kiratpur Sahib with his ashes.