Around 2012-13, Banuda, Anandpal and Theth all got arrested in quick succession. But their rivalry didn’t abate.
In January 2014, Theth was shot at in Sikar jail by an inmate called Subhash Moond, allegedly at Anandpal and Banuda’s behest. The attack critically injured Theth but he survived and vowed revenge against Anandpal and Banuda.
It was now Anandpal vs Theth.
This rivalry also assumed a caste dimension. Anandpal Singh, a Ravana Rajput, became a hero for many youngsters in his community after killing Gopal Phogawat. Theth was a Jat and he began gaining popularity among many Jat youngsters due to his rivalry with Anandpal and the fact that he was seen as the person who could avenge Phogawat.
The Theth-associate who killed Banuda, was killed by Anandpal and his men in a dramatic fashion – by being hit repeatedly with bricks.
Anandpal Singh grew close to Lawrence Bishnoi, whose influence was rising at that time in Punjab’s gang scene.
Hailing from Fazilka district on the…