Jaipur/Jaisalmer: Two days after a suspected member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was arrested following a police encounter in Sriganganagar, investigators said Sunday that he had revealed during questioning that he was the one initially assigned the contract to target filmmaker Rohit Shetty in Mumbai.The accused, identified as Agra resident Akash Nigam (25), was arrested Friday and remains in police custody. Following leads from his interrogation, Hanumangarh police Sunday arrested three more persons linked to the network.A history-sheeter identified as Anil was detained for suspected links with the gang, while two others, identified as Monu and Sandeep, were arrested on charges of assault and a Rs 50-lakh extortion demand. Their links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang are being examined, police said.Nigam told investigators that he was tasked by Bishnoi gang associate Arzoo Bishnoi last year to conduct reconnaissance for a possible attack on Shetty in Mumbai.“Nigam had initially agreed to the task but later backed out, after which it was reassigned,” a police officer said, adding that another team subsequently carried out the shooting at the filmmaker’s residence in Feb.Officials said Nigam continued to work with the gang after stepping away from the assignment, travelling extensively to gather information on the movements of various individuals the gang was targeting. “He was one of the key members involved in reconnaissance work,” an official said.Preliminary findings suggest that in recent weeks, Nigam travelled to Hanumangarh and Jaipur on possible reconnaissance missions.
