Hiding behind a noble cause, Lawrence Bishnoi has always cloaked his violence in the garb of justice and moral vigilantism. Lodged in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati jail, the gangster and his network portray themselves as self-appointed avengers like defenders of wildlife, workers' rights, and justice, while unleashing extortion, shootings and assassinations. This facade not only improves Bishnoi's image among supporters but also sows fear. It somewhat blurs the line between crime and crusade.
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The archetype is the long-running vendetta against Bollywood star Salman Khan. In 1998, Khan was arrested for allegedly poaching two blackbucks, sacred animals in the Bishnoi community's eco-spiritual etho
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