Ramesh Bishnoi, cousin of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, on Monday, 19 October issued a fresh threat to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, warning that the actor must apologise to the Bishnoi community or face 'dangerous consequences.' The warning came in the immediate aftermath of a shooting attack on actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai's Juhu area, in which a man claiming affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang said the firing was a warning to Tiger Shroff to cease working with Salman Khan.

The Attack on Tiger Shroff

On Sunday, three men on a motorcycle opened fire at Tiger Shroff's car in Juhu, Mumbai, as the 36-year-old actor was departing a playground after football practice. According to Mumbai Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Mohit Garg, three rounds were fired at the vehicle. The actor's driver sustained injuries and was rushed to Nanavati Hospital for treatment. An autorickshaw driver and some bystanders in the vicinity were also reportedly hurt. Panic spread through the area as residents ran for cover upon hearing the gunshots; police cordoned off the crime scene and a forensic team was deployed to gather evidence.

Suspects Arrested at Kota Railway Station

Acting on intelligence that the suspected shooters were aboard the Pune-Jaipur Express, Rajasthan Police surrounded and searched the train at Kota Railway Station on Monday, completing the operation in approximately 15 minutes. Three suspects were taken into custody, including a minor. The arrested individuals have been identified as Rehan alias Sukka, a resident of Sonipat, Haryana, and Hrithik Kurmi alias Roshan, a resident of Begusarai, Bihar, along with the unnamed juvenile.

Bishnoi Gang Claims Responsibility

Within hours of the shooting, a video began circulating on social media in which a man identifying himself as Anil Pandit claimed to represent the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and took responsibility for the firing. He described it as a warning directed at Tiger Shroff for continuing to collaborate professionally with Salman Khan. The authenticity of the clip could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.

Ramesh Bishnoi's Warning

Speaking from Abohar, Punjab, Ramesh Bishnoi said he was relaying the sentiments of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. 'As you heard in the audio, I heard the same thing: That we have stopped him and want to warn him again that anyone who works with Salman Khan could face consequences,' he said. He added, 'These are not my words, I'm just citing their emotions on the matter.' He also appealed to Salman Khan's family directly: 'I want to tell Salman Khan's family to give up their stubbornness. This is an issue affecting the entire community, and there is widespread anger within it.'

Ramesh Bishnoi further maintained that Lawrence Bishnoi had no personal dispute with Salman Khan and was merely voicing collective community outrage. 'Lawrence has no personal dispute with Salman Khan, nor is it a personal dispute with the community. The issue is that he has hurt our religious sentiments,' he said, reiterating that a public apology remained the gang's stated demand.

Background: The Blackbuck Poaching Case

The Bishnoi gang's animosity with Salman Khan stems from his alleged involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan, which occurred during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain. A trial court convicted the actor in 2018, a verdict he has contested in higher courts while maintaining his innocence. The blackbuck is considered a sacred animal by the Bishnoi community. This is not the first time the gang has issued threats to the actor; security around Salman Khan was reportedly heightened following earlier incidents linked to the same group.

As investigations continue, the focus now shifts to whether authorities will pursue charges against those who issued the public threats, and what security measures will be extended to other Bollywood figures associated with Salman Khan.