New Delhi: The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has not only claimed responsibility for the murder of Baba Siddique but also threatened that anyone who helps actor Salman Khan, near whose house it has already fired warning shots, will be in its crosshairs.
Soon after Siddique, a three-time MLA and former Maharashtra minister, was killed near the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Bandra East on Saturday night, there was speculation of a Bishnoi gang link to the daring crime. This was confirmed on Sunday after a post on Facebook by Shubuu Lonkar, believed to be Bishnoi gang associate Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar, claiming responsibility, NDTV reported.
While Lonkar is in jail, police said the post was made by his brother Pravin Lonkar, who was arrested on Sunday evening.
In the post, Lonkar claimed that Siddique had been killed because he was linked to India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, who was close to Salman Khan and because of the death of Anuj Thapan, one of the arrested suspects in the shooting outside Khan’s house, in police custody.
Notably, Thapan was found dead on May 1 inside the Mumbai Crime Branch lock-up. The police had said he died by suicide but his family had claimed he was tortured in custody.
“We do not have any enmity with anyone but whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang, keep your accounts in order (‘hisab-kitaab kar lena’),” Lonkar wrote in Hindi in the Facebook post. Police said they are verifying the authenticity of the post.
Siddique was known for hosting lavish parties and a five-year-long cold war between Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan was resolved at his ‘iftar’ party in 2013.
Police sources said at least two celebrities have been attacked by the Bishnoi gang for their perceived closeness to Salman Khan since last year. Meanwhile, Khan visited the hospital where Siddique was admitted after he was shot on Saturday and also went to his residence on Sunday.
Security has been tightened around Salman Khan’s house, Galaxy Apartments in Bandra.
