The arrests made in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the firing outside filmmaker–director Rohit Shetty’s residence have exposed alarming details about a dangerous and well-organised criminal network operating across several districts in the state.
According to sources, multiple districts in Uttar Pradesh are currently on the radar of the notorious Bishnoi gang. The gang is allegedly recruiting young and sharp individuals, brainwashing them, and forming district-level modules to execute criminal activities.
Investigations have revealed that the gang’s presence has increased in western Uttar Pradesh districts including Saharanpur, Meerut, Bijnor, Amroha, Etawah, Etah, Moradabad, Bareilly, Agra, Noida, Ghaziabad and Aligarh. These districts are strategically significant due to their proximity to Haryana and Delhi, where the Bishnoi gang is believed to already have a strong influence.
A senior officer disclosed that in the Baba Siddiqui murder case, the gang had allegedly activated the “Bahraich module”, while the firing incident at Rohit Shetty’s residence was carried out using the “Agra module”. Inputs gathered during investigations indicate that similar modules are being systematically developed across several districts in Uttar Pradesh.
Sources further revealed that the gang is targeting unemployed, ambitious youth who aspire for quick fame and easy money. Youngsters are allegedly lured with promises of becoming “big gangsters” and earning fast cash. After recruitment, they are reportedly sent to training camps where they undergo systematic brainwashing.
At these camps, radical narratives are used to instill aggression, identify so-called enemies, and psychologically prepare recruits by projecting them as part of a larger “mission”. Investigating agencies believe that once the modules are established, these recruits are pushed to execute crimes so that the core leadership of the gang remains insulated.
Following these serious inputs, the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) have intensified their joint investigation. Efforts are underway to identify potential training locations and dismantle the growing network.
Officials warn that the Bishnoi gang appears to be attempting to turn Uttar Pradesh into a new “module factory”. Agencies believe that if the network is not dismantled in time, the consequences could be far more dangerous.