Delhi police names gangster Lawrence Bishnoi as mastermind in Moose Wala murder

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Wednesday named Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi as the mastermind behind the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala.

Bishnoi and his associates are currently in police custody.

In a press conference at Delhi Police Headquarters, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HS Dhaliwal said his team has identified five men involved in the killing.

Lawrence Bishnoi was the key suspect in the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala. But he had not confessed to the crime, saying instead that his gang was involved and they had planned and executed the crime.

Lawrence Bishnoi -- who is in Delhi's Tihar jail -- has been questioned several times by the police. He is said to be connected to Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, who claimed responsibility for Moose Wala's murder in a Facebook post. The motive, he claimed, was retaliation for the killing of Akali leader Vicky Middukhera, which took place last year.

Moose Wala, a 28-year-old singer-politician, was shot dead by some unidentified attackers in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29 -- a day after his security cover was cut down by the Punjab government.

He had sustained 19 bullet wounds. The police said he died within 15 minutes of being shot and the hunt was on for nearly 10 sharpshooters.

On Wednesday, senior police officer HS Dhaliwal said at least 5 people were involved in the murder.

One of them, Siddhesh Hiraman Kamle alias Mahakaal -- a close associate of one of the shooters -- has been arrested, he said. "Mahakaal was not involved in the shooting. The actual shooters will be arrested soon," Mr Dhaliwal said.

The police said Mahakaal has been arrested from Pune and five more suspects have been identified in the case.