Tensions have escalated in Punjab after several political leaders reportedly received threatening WhatsApp messages allegedly linked to the gang of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The threats surfaced soon after a group of leaders publicly opposed the release of a documentary titled “Lawrence of Punjab,” which is said to be based on the life and activities of the gangster.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa revealed that he had received a threatening message shortly after he demanded a ban on the documentary. Randhawa said he has already informed Punjab’s Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav about the threat and asked the police to investigate the matter seriously.
According to Randhawa, the incident raises troubling questions about how gang networks continue to operate even when their leaders are lodged in high-security prisons. Bishnoi is currently incarcerated in Sabarmati Central Jail, yet his alleged influence appears to extend far beyond prison walls.
The threatening messages were not limited to one leader. Reports suggest that several prominent figures received similar messages, including Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, and Balkaur Singh, the father of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The messages allegedly warned them against speaking out against the documentary or attempting to block its release.
Reacting strongly to the threats, Raja Warring said the Congress party would continue raising its voice against gangster culture in Punjab. He stressed that political leaders cannot be intimidated by criminal elements and that ensuring a “gangster-free Punjab” remains a priority.
Randhawa also questioned how imprisoned gangsters are still able to communicate with their networks outside jail. He claimed that another gangster, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who is currently lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, has allegedly been using a mobile phone despite strict prison rules. Such claims have once again triggered concerns about security inside prisons and the reach of organized crime networks.
The controversy began after several Punjabi leaders and public figures objected to the documentary “Lawrence of Punjab.” Critics argue that projects centered on gangsters risk glorifying criminals and could negatively influence young audiences. Following the growing backlash, the Government of India reportedly moved to stop the documentary’s release.
The incident has reignited a broader debate in Punjab about gangsterism, media portrayal of crime, and the ability of jailed criminals to maintain influence outside prison. Security agencies are now expected to examine the origin of the threatening messages and determine whether the threats indeed came from the Bishnoi gang or individuals claiming to represent it.