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India-Canada tussle makes gangster Lawrence Bishnoi an unlikely hero on Twitter

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Ayaan Paul
Ayaan PaulSep 21, 2023 | 15:00

India-Canada tussle makes gangster Lawrence Bishnoi an unlikely hero on Twitter

Lawrence Bishnoi claiming responsibility for the killing of Sukha Duneke in Canada not only ignited a polarising debate within India, but also set off a remarkable response on social media.

  • This response is marked by the pedestalisation of Bishnoi as a hero, a figure who has taken the law into his own hands and emerged as a symbol of justice for slaying the Khalistani ‘villain’.
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The making of an unlikely hero

The Internet's reaction to Bishnoi's claim is a reflection of the complex dynamics of hero worship, especially in a society where individuals with a propensity for criminal activities sometimes garner admiration and support. 

X (formerly Twitter) has turned into ground zero for the Lawrence Bishnoi fan club.

Tweets began pouring in, celebrating him as a heroic figure.

With #LawrenceBishnoi at the very top of Trending hashtags, the sheer volume of tweets indicates a significant portion of the online populace applauding his actions.

Some tweets called for Bishnoi to be the Chief Minister of Punjab, which underscores the extent of his pedestalisation. 

Many tweets expressed profound respect and admiration for Bishnoi. They portrayed him as a 'protector of the Hindu community' and a fearless warrior against criminals and terrorists.

Some tweets used cultural references and terminology to hail Bishnoi as a "sher" (lion) or a "messiah" figure. 

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Memes featuring Bishnoi circulated widely, presenting him in a larger-than-life, heroic light.

Why

Bishnoi has surged into the limelight once more after claiming responsibility for the killing of Khalistani terrorist aide Sukhdool Singh Gill, commonly known as Sukha Duneke, in Canada. 

READ MORE: Khalistani terrorist aide Sukhdool Singh killed in Canada in gangwar, say reports

  • The story began with a Facebook post. Bishnoi, currently incarcerated in Ahmedabad on charges related to a drug smuggling case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), used social media as his platform to announce his involvement in the assassination of Sukha Duneke in Canada's Winnipeg. 
A screenshot of Bisnoi's alleged Facebook post
  • Bishnoi claimed that Duneke had a hand in the murders of gangsters Gurlal Brar and Vicky Middukhera, along with kabaddi player Sandeep Nagal Ambian. 
  • The gang further accused Duneke of masterminding these assassinations, even when he was residing abroad. Their portrayal of Duneke as a "drug addict" responsible for ruining countless lives contributed to their justification for his murder.
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The who, what, how

Duneke, a suspected ally of the Bambiha gang, met his demise when unidentified assailants gunned him down. Bishnoi's audacious post asserted his responsibility for this high-profile murder.

  • Duneke, one of Punjab's most wanted criminals, was embroiled in a staggering 18 cases, including charges of murder, attempted murder, and robbery, within the state.
  • He had become a fugitive, fleeing to Canada in December 2017, likely to escape the tightening grip of the Indian law enforcement agencies.

Bishnoi, on the other hand, is no stranger to controversy. He had a criminal record that included allegations of extortion, kidnapping, and involvement in violent gang rivalries.

His notoriety had grown to the extent that he was also accused in the murder case of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.

The complex rivalries

The assassination of Sukha Duneke in Canada did not occur in isolation. It was a stark manifestation of the simmering inter-gang rivalries that have plagued the criminal underbelly of Punjab for years.

While Bishnoi took credit for the killing, another Punjab-based gangster, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, also swiftly came forward to claim responsibility.

  • Bhagwanpuria, once a close associate of Bishnoi, had turned into his foe. He asserted that he was exacting revenge for the murder of Sandeep Nagal Ambian, further complicating the narrative.

Your enemy's enemy is my friend

Tweets also justify Bishnoi's actions, citing the alleged crimes committed by Sukha Duneke and emphasising the notion of "an eye for an eye". This moral framing further reinforces his pedestalisation as a righteous avenger.

The phenomenon of pedestalising criminals or individuals involved in illegal activities is not unique to India, and raises concerns about the role of social media in shaping public perception, as online communities can amplify and normalise narratives that may have real-world consequences.

While Lawrence Bishnoi's newfound hero status on the Internet may be celebrated by some, it underscores the need for deeper discussions about the implications of glorifying criminal figures and the importance of upholding the rule of law and due process in society.

One last thing

The timing of the killing of Sukha Duneke also raises a few eyebrows given the current temperature in India and Canada. The two countries are fighting a diplomatic war of the worst kind, with visas suspended and diplomats expelled. 

READ MORE: India and Canada suspend all visa ops in tit-for-tat move as an all-out diplomatic war plays out

It all began with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau accusing New Delhi of having a hand in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar back in June 2023, on Canadian soil.

In the two days since, India and Canada have spiralled into a kind of diplomatic faceoff seldom seen before. Under the current circumstances, the nuances of a Khalistani terrorist aide being killed in Canada, by a gangster lodged in a jail in Ahmedabad, have not been lost on people.

ALSO READ: Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and what is his Oct 29 ultimatum for Hindus in Canada?

Last updated: September 21, 2023 | 15:00
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