Moose Wala murder: Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi 'not cooperating'; SIT traces route taken by shooters

NEW DELHI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made vital headway into the gruesome murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
The SIT said it has taken custody of two more gangsters lodged in separate jails in Punjab in connection with the incident.
Separately, it plans to investigate gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who is currently lodged in Tihar jail.
Moose Wala was shot dead near the Jawahar Ke village of Punjab when he was travelling in his SUV along with two others. Canada-based Goldy Brar, an associate of Bishnoi, took responsibility for the murder from his purported Facebook account.
Here are the latest updates:
'Lawrence Bishnoi not cooperating'
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, whose name surfaced in singer Sidhu Moose Wala's murder case, is reportedly not cooperating with the police during the investigation.
The Delhi Police Special Cell had obtained 5-day custody of Bishnoi and is questioning him about the singer's murder.

During interrogation with the police, Lawrence said that he had nothing to do with Moose Wala's murder.
Further, Bishnoi also disassociated himself from the social media post in which Brar claimed responsibility.
SIT finds vital leads
SIT head and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora said the police have traced the route taken by the criminals involved in the murder.
"From where they came, how they conducted a recce and how they escaped – we have cleared this all," he said.

He said different police teams, including the cyber cell, were involved in the investigation. "We have got important leads and we are working on that," he added.
Separately, the Punjab police team said it will question gangster Bishnoi after bringing him to the state in connection with the murder.
On whether Mansa police will take custody of Bishnoi, the SSP said, "Definitely. We have information that the Delhi Police have taken the remand of Bishnoi. After that we will make him join the investigation in this case as per the law."
He added that two gangsters were brought for question on production warrants from prisons in Ferozepur and Bathinda.

On Tuesday, the police had made the first arrest in the case.
Security of Moosewala's wounded friends tightened
Security of Moose Wala's two friends, who were inside the car at the time of the attack on May 29, has been enhanced by police, sources said on Wednesday.
"They are the only eyewitness of the incident so their security has been tightened," sources said.

Both Gurwinder Singh and Gurpreet were accompanying the singer and were sustained serious injuries during the firing.
Both are admitted at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana. While one received a bullet injury on his arm, the other one was shot on the thigh.
Singer was breathing even after attack, claim locals
Giving eyewitness account of the incident, the local residents of Jawaharke village of Mansa claimed that the singer-turned-politician was alive for a few minutes even after the attack.
"The jeep was locked from inside and we had to break open its doors to get inside and take out the wounded people," one of the local residents, among the first to reach the spot after the incident, said.
The locals claimed that when they broke open the doors, Sidhu was still breathing.

"Though he was badly wounded, his heart was still beating. We sensed it," they said.
There was no vehicle to take him immediately to the hospital and it took some time until a passing car was stopped and Moose Wala was shifted to a local hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
Sources said that the deceased singer had also fired two shots in retaliation but to no avail. The assailants were most likely carrying AN-94 Russian Assault Rifles.
Motive behind the murder
While claiming responsibility for Moose Wala's murder, Goldy Brar had said that the action was taken in retaliation to the murder of Youth Akali leader Vikramjit alias Vicky Middukhera.
Middukhera was shot dead in broad daylight last year and the name of Sidhu Moose Wala's manager Shaganpreet had cropped up in the youth leader's murder. Shaganpreet had fled to Australia last year.
Brar, in his Facebook post, said that Moose Wala was working against his gang and was also allegedly involved in the killing of his cousin Gurlal Brar.
However, sources said the reason behind the murder could also be turf war within the Punjabi music industry.

"Gangster Vicky from Punjab used to invest money on new artists who want to make their career in the singing profession and helped them in launching their albums and later used to claim and demand their share in the earnings. Therefore, there is also an angle in the investigation whether there is an attempt to establish the gangster's dominance over the music industry behind the murder incident," police sources said.
The police have received information that all the shooters or crooks of Punjab, big or small, are in touch with these gangsters who are conducting operations from the jail.
Sources said that during investigation, it was found that whatever messages are being sent on social media about the murder, are being relayed from abroad or through VPN.
Sources also said that Brar and Lawrence have known each other since college when they were involved in student politics.
"Lawrence and Goldy Brar use new shooters every time so that the police can't reach them easily and even if they reach, they can't link it with them," said sources.
According to police sources, "The relationship between these gangsters associated with Punjab is decades old. They all are part of Punjab university politics Friendship and enmity started from the university campus."
(With inputs from agencies)