New Delhi: The Lawrence Bishnoi group has claimed responsibility for the murder of gangster Bhanu Pratap, alias Bhanu Rana, in California.Rana was a wanted as he had a history of criminal operations across Delhi and Haryana. Orginally from Karnal in Haryana, Rana was a long-time associate of Lawrence but had apparently parted ways early last year. He was detained in Georgia in Nov 2025.His extradition from the US was being sought, given his alleged involvement in killings, extortion, possession and trafficking of weapons and other crimes in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.His name had surfaced during the investigation of a grenade attack in Punjab. A confirmation from California police about the murder is awaited.Rana was detained around the same time his close aide, Surya Pratap, alias Noni Rana, was apprehended in the US, and another aide, Venkatesh Garg, was detained in Georgia.Garg and Noni had joined hands with Lawrence through UK-based gangster Kapil Sangwan, a common friend. They were all operating from the US soil and extorting money from businessmen there and in India.The Lawrence Bishnoi group claimed Rana’s murder through a social media post. The post, written in a mix of Hindi and Punjabi, asserted that the killing was carried out by “Sarpanch Europe,” Sahil Duhan from Hisar, and members of Lawrence’s group.The author of the post labelled Rana a “traitor” and claimed that they had predicted his death in a post exactly a year ago. The message issued a chilling warning, stating that Lawrence has ordered the elimination of anyone working against the country, regardless of where they hide globally.The message warns that rivals will be buried “ten-foot-deep” just like Bhanu Rana, such that his body will never be found. In a notable internal development within the gang, the post also disavowed Goldy Dhillon, stating he no longer has any connection to the group.The post alleges that Dhillon has turned into a drug trafficker and an informant. It advises others to stay away from him. The message concludes with a list of various affiliated groups and individuals spanning international locations, including Australia and Spain, highlighting the sprawling nature of the criminal network’s reach. Lawrence Bishnoi now runs a vast, high-profile international network with hundreds of shooters and associates across India and abroad.
