Lawrence of Punjab row: The dreaded Lawrence Bishnoi gang has issued fresh threats directed at father of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, almost a day after the Union Government had advised ZEE5 to refrain from premiering the docuseries ‘Lawrence of Punjab,’ centred on Bishnoi’s life.

In a menacing statement, the gang declared that the documentary will be ‘released at any cost,’ and warned that those opposing it should ‘prepare their shrouds.’ The group further asserted that instead of demanding money, it would resort to violence through ‘bullets and bombs.’ 

Political leaders also targeted by gang

The names targeted by the gang include Moosewala’s father Balkur Singh, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, senior leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia and Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi. 

The explicit warning has heightened concerns over security and public order across Punjab. 

Lawrence of Punjab row: Court’s intervention defers release

The threats came shortly after streaming platform ZEE5 approached the Delhi High Court (HC), informing it that they had been advised by the Centre not to proceed with the release of the docuseries, which was slated to premiere on April 27. 

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav was hearing the petition filed by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi himself against the release. The counsel representing ZEE5 told the court that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had issued an advisory urging restraint. Following all the submission, the Delhi HC deferred the hearing until Monday, pausing the show’s release for now. 

Makers’ stance on the docuseries

As per the web series’ makers, the ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ seeks to trace the evolution of a criminal identity, examining intersections between culture, student politics, music, ideology and media exposure. In the series, Bishnoi has reportedly been presented as a case study, which has not gone down well with the law enforcement agencies. 

Notably, the Punjab Police had written to the Centre two days ago, warning that the release of such content could result in the disruption of public order and may potentially influence impressionable youth towards gangsterism. 

Lawrence Bishnoi (33) is currently lodged in a jail in Gujarat and has numerous criminal charges against him. He is one of the key accused in the murder of Sidhu Moosewala, whose killing had sent shockwaves across the country.

Also read: Centre halts release of ZEE5’s ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ web series over concerns linked to public order