Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was shifted to Delhi’s Central Jail from Gujarat on Thursday, official said.
Bishnoi is one of the accused in Punjab singer Siddhu Moosewala’s muder case.
The news agency PTI quoting officials said the Gujarat Police brought Bishnoi from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati jail to Delhi’s Central Jail in connection with a case lodged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“After being brought to Delhi, Bishnoi was shifted to a high-security ward, it said.
The report quoting a senior jail officer said, “Bishnoi is a high-risk inmate and also a gang leader with several associates and rivals in Delhi prisons. We want to make sure he is safe and security arrangements have been tightened up around him”.
“Bishnoi has been shifted to Mandoli Jail and not Tihar due to the recent security lapses in the latter. Last month, gangster Tillu Tajpuriya was killed by four rival inmates inside Tihar Jail No 8. Brar and members of the Gogi gang claimed responsibility for the murder. More than seven jail officials were suspended for negligence in duty,” it said.
“Since Tajpuriya and Bishnoi are from rival gangs, there could be some scuffle or security issues. We have kept Bishnoi far from rival gangsters and associates,”it said.
As per the police, he was earlier in custody of Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in connection with a drug case. He was also arrested by the Punjab Police last year for allegedly conspiring to kill Moosewala.
The police said Bishnoi is the leader of an inter-state crime syndicate and is a close associate of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar. He has allegedly threatened to ‘eliminate’ Bollywood actor Salman Khan on several occasions, said sources. The actor has now been provided with Y plus security by the Mumbai Police.
Officials said Bishnoi will be questioned by NIA and other agencies in Delhi prisons.
