MUMBAI, July 1 -- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government will constitute a team of police officers to tackle organised criminal networks such as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. He also said the state is coordinating with the central government to bring back members of the Bishnoi syndicate operating from abroad. Fadnavis made the announcement in the state assembly on Tuesday after legislators pointed to the gang's growing activities and demanded action to curb them. Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh said, "During your previous tenure as chief minister, you had a team of officers such as Daya Nayak, Pradeep Sharma and Deven Bharti that took on hardcore criminals. Effectively, they used to encounter them. There is a need to have such a specialised team again." Fadnavis agreed that a dedicated unit was needed. He said the Bishnoi gang has adopted a new modus operandi to carry out extortion. "Their associates use VPN-based phones to issue threats. Those who do not respond are generally left alone, but those who appear intimidated are targeted using contract shooters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The objective is not to kill but to create fear," he said....