Who is Lawrence Bishnoi, the gangster whose prime target is now Salman Khan?

Soon after Siddique, whose annual Iftar party sees the assembly of big stars under one roof, was gunned down, Salman's security has been beefed up anticipating a possible attack on the country's beloved actor, whose alleged hunting of blackbucks kept the anger sustain for more than two decades within Bishnoi.

Bishnoi, whose chiselled physique and swaggering images in hooded jackets are viral now, was born in 1993 when Salman, who is often referred to as Bollywood 'bad boy', had several hit Hindi films under his belt. A young Salman Khan with a thin outlook was a rising star in Mumbai.

In 1998, Salman was in Jodhpur to shoot Hum Saath Saath Hain, where he starred alongside the likes of Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu.

In that tour, Salman was accused of hunting two endangered blackbucks along with his co-stars.

In the same year, members from the Bishnoi community had filed a case against Salman and his co-stars. Bishnoi was just five then.

Twenty-six years later, the threat on Salman's life looms large as Bishnoi, who was a kid in 1998, is now running a gang which has a team of about 700 shooters.

Born at a village in Ferozepur, Punjab, Bishnoi did his study in Abohar until 12th grade in 2010. He moved to DAV College, Chandigarh the same year.

The next year, Bishnoi joined Panjab University Campus Students Council where he came across another gangster, Goldy Brar. The two joined the campus politics and also committed crimes.

The Bishnoi gang is operating with 700 shooters from five states with an outreach outside India as well.

Bishnoi, who is in jail, operates from prison using mobile phones. He is switched from one prison to the other. First jailed in 2012, he is now in Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Jail where he was shifted from Delhi's Tihar Jail last year in August.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang on Sunday claimed responsibility for the murder of Baba Siddique, who was shot dead by three men during Dussehra on October 12.

One of the gang members shared a post on Facebook where he hinted at Siddique's close ties with Salman and links to underworld people that cost him his life.

The Facebook post reads, "Salman Khan, we did not want this war but you are the reason behind the harm to our brother. We have no enmity towards anyone but whoever helps Salman Khan or Dawood gang should be ready for the consequences."

"The cause of his death is Anuj Thapan and linking Dawood to Bollywood, politics and property dealing," the post added.

Siddique, who had close ties with Salman Khan, had been receiving threats from the Bishnoi gang.

The gang was allegedly involved in the firing incident outside Salman's residence earlier this year.

After Siddique's murder, Salman's security has been ramped up and the actor has been avoiding guests at home.