Delhi Police arrest two Lawrence Bishnoi gang shooters after Paschim Vihar shootout

The Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested two suspected shooters linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in the early hours of Thursday after a shootout in West Delhi's Paschim Vihar. The accused, identified as Sagar and Hakikat, who also goes by Sahil, were wanted in connection with a June 11 firing incident at a local gym in Pushkar Enclave.

The encounter took place after the Special Cell’s Counter-Intelligence Unit received intelligence regarding the suspects' presence in the nearby Meera Bagh area. Upon being tracked down and asked to surrender, the two men opened fire on the police team. Officers retaliated in self-defence, injuring both suspects in their legs before apprehending them.

Following the shootout, police recovered two firearms from the possession of the accused. Investigators suspect that one of these weapons was used during the gym shooting earlier this month.

According to the police, the two shooters were acting under the instructions of their handlers, identified as Anil Pandit and Hariram Jat, also known as Harry Boxer. Both handlers are currently absconding and are suspected to be operating from abroad on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate.

The arrests stem from an incident on June 11, when masked men riding a motorcycle fired at least seven bullets at a gym located in Pushkar Enclave near Paschim Vihar. While two bullets struck the glass façade of the fitness centre, no injuries were reported from the shooting.

Anil Pandit later claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media post. An accompanying audio message suggested that the gym was targeted due to the association of Punjabi singer and entrepreneur Guru Randhawa with Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

A senior police officer confirmed that the gym is owned by two West Delhi residents and operates as a franchise of a fitness centre brand associated with Randhawa, who serves as its brand ambassador.