Bollywood actor Salman Khan narrowly survived an assassination attempt, reportedly hatched by a key suspect in the murder of rapper Sidhu Moose Wala.
A sharpshooter with a small-bore weapon hidden in a modified hockey casing attempted to assassinate Khan. The sharpshooter was reportedly planted outside the actor’s residence in Mumbai, according to Indian media.
Laurence Bishnoi, the leader of a 700-member gang and a key suspect in the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala, is believed to have sent the sharp-shooter outside Salman Khan’s home. Although Bishnoi himself is currently in jail, he issues orders through a mobile phone, which are carried out by his gang members.
Reports suggest that the assassins had previously conducted reconnaissance of his residence and found out that the actor goes for his daily morning bike rides unaccompanied, without his security guards. The assassins were aware that Khan is not protected during his bike rides, and therefore planned to assassinate him.
The sharp-shooter was positioned outside Khan’s residence and was about to swing into action when the unrelated arrival of the police disrupted his plans. The Mumbai police had shown up just as Khan had stepped out of the house, as the actor had a public event that day.
On seeing the police, the sharp-shooter decided against going ahead with his plan, as he feared apprehension from the police.
Salman Khan has been a target of criminal groups for a while now, especially the Bishnoi group, who got offended during the the infamous blackbuck poaching case during the shoot of his 1999 blockbuster Hum Saath Saath Hain. The Bishnoi community considers the blackbuck to be a sacred animal and Khan’s involvement in poaching had hurt the community’s sentiments.
Following the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala, security around the actor had been increased, and the police had also enhanced the protection unit outside his house.
