Mumbai: The two suspects arrested for the murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique claimed that they belonged to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang—which had claimed responsibility for the attack outside actor Salman Khan’s home in Bandra area of Mumbai—according to media reports. Cops haven’t verified this claim. The gang is also yet to admit responsibility for the murder.
The shooting of Baba Siddique comes six months after the alleged attack targeting Salman Khan, who was a very close friend of the late NCP leader. Bishnoi, a gangster, had claimed that he was upset with the actor for shooting a blackbuck. In April, two unidentified people had fired more than four shots outside Galaxy Apartments, Salman Khan’s home in Bandra.
Rohit Godara, a close aide of Bishnoi, had earlier claimed that anyone who was a friend of Salman Khan was their enemy, reported the NDTV. Following Baba Siddique’s murder, security has been tightened outside Salman Khan’s apartment in Mumbai on Sunday.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Security enhanced outside Galaxy apartments, the residence of actor Salman Khan pic.twitter.com/ZB2CBpuid0
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2024
Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?
Several officers from central agencies and the Mumbai police told The Indian Express that the Bishnoi gang was a “new headache.” Bishnoi is a prime accused in the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. He is currently lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail. His gang has been active in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and (western) UP. According to reports, the gang was attempting to step into Mumbai area.
There are over 700 shooters in the Bishnoi gang, police sources said, as quoted by NDTV. Many small and big criminals across the country allegedly work for him. Bishnoi has also been linked to the murder of a Delhi-based gym owner of Afghan origin recently.
Siddique had received death threats 15 days back
The leader had received a threat to his life about 15 days back. Recently, his security was beefed up to the Y category, the Hindustan Times reported. The security was strengthen after he received the death threat. Siddique, however, did not report any threat from the Bishnoi gang.
Shooters paid in advance: Cops
Senior officers from Mumbai Crime Branch were questioning both the arrested accused in the shootout leading to Siddique’s death. “The accused were paid in advance for this work. They had received arms delivery a few days ago. The accused have been questioned by Mumbai Crime Branch officials for the about 8 hours,” police told the ANI.
Two men arrested, the suspects carried recce for a month
The shooting was allegedly carried out by three men. Two men – Karnail Singh from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh – were arrested. The third one is at large. Cops, however, believe someone else was providing them with information about Siddique’s location, the NDTV reported.
While being quizzed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, the suspects apparently told the cops that they conducted a recce of the shooting spot for nearly a month.
The three had arrived at the crime spot in an auto rickshaw Saturday night. They waited for a while before the shooting, added the sources in the crime branch.
The cops are also probing a slum rehabilitation case angle link to the murder. Delhi Police would also send a special investigation team to Mumbai to investigate the murder, the ANI reported. It is believed that a suspected gangster’s motive behind the murder of Baba Siddiqui was to establish his influence in Mumbai, sources told to the ANI.
What has happened so far?
Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his son’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra East on Saturday evening. The veteran politician was immediately rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead. Three assailants had fired three to four rounds at Siddique, hitting him in the chest.
Two persons, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Haryana, have been arrested. A case regarding the incident has been registered at Nirmal Nagar Police Station under crime registration no. 589/2024, sections 103(1), 109, 125, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3, 25, 5, and 27 of the Arms Act, and Section 37 and section 137 of the Maharashtra Police Act, cops told ANI. His body has been taken to Lee Cooper Hospital for postmortem.
NCP cancels all party programmes today, full state honours for last rites today
“Keeping in view the tragic death of our party colleague Shri. Baba Siddique, all party programs for 13th October, 2024 i.e. Sunday stand cancelled,” the party wrote on X after the shooting incident. Siddique’s last rites will be performed with full state honours in Mumbai today.
The incident has sparked security concerns ahead of the Maharashtra state elections. “The tragic demise of Baba Siddique ji is shocking and saddening. My thoughts are with his family in this difficult time. This horrifying incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. The government must take responsibility, and justice must prevail,” Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi wrote on X. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had grief over Siddique’s death, dubbing the incident extremely unfortunate.
Opposition reacts
Condemning the incident, Opposition party leaders, including the Congress, sought accountability from the Shinde-led government for increasing criminal activities in the state. Several leaders, including Sharad Pawar, demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, reports stated.