NEW DELHI: NCP leader Baba Siddique succumbed to his injuries after being shot six times, with two bullets hitting the 66-year-old former Maharashtra minister in the chest.
The attack took place outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique‘s office in Nirmal Nagar, Bandra, Mumbai, between 9.15 pm and 9.30 pm on Saturday. Three assailants took advantage of the Dussehra fireworks to execute the shooting.
The Congress-turned-NCP leader, who had been provided non-categorized security, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors. His funeral was conducted with full state honors at Bada Qabrastan. Siddique, who had non-categorized security, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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- Security lapses: On the night of the incident, Siddique had only one constable accompanying him, despite being assigned non-categorized security consisting of three constables. Two officers had been relieved of duty earlier in the evening, police revealed on Monday.
- Targeted both father and son: Mumbai Police revealed that the attackers had orders to kill both Baba and his son Zeeshan Siddique. The suspects disclosed during interrogation that Zeeshan had also received threats prior to the shooting.
- Expanded search for suspects underway: The search for the absconding suspect, Shivkumar Gautam, has extended to places of worship in Ujjain and Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, as authorities collaborate with local police. Gautam, who hails from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, is believed to be hiding in the area.
- Arrests and Investigation: Mumbai Police have arrested three suspects Gurmail Baljit Singh (23) from Haryana, Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19) from Uttar Pradesh, and Pravin Lonkar from Pune. The suspected “handler,” Mohd Zishan Akhtar, is also wanted by the authorities.
- Legal proceedings: Pravin Lonkar was remanded in police custody until October 21, while an ossification test confirmed that Dharmaraj Kashyap is not a minor. Following the test results, Kashyap was presented before the court, which granted police custody till October 21.
- An ossification test is a medical procedure that estimates a person’s age by analyzing the degree of bone fusion and is commonly used for age determination.
- Police recovered two pistols: Pravin’s brother, Shubham Lonkar, is believed to have masterminded the murder and remains at large. Police recovered two Glock automatic pistols, four magazines with 28 bullets, four mobile phones, Aadhaar cards, and a bag from the suspects.
- Claimed responsibility: According to the police, Shubham Lonkar is alleged to have coordinated all the logistics, weapons, and personnel necessary for the operation. Just a day after the murder, Shubham claimed responsibility for the act in a social media post. Shubham Lonkar is currently absconding, while authorities report that Pravin provided shelter to both of the arrested suspects in Pune.
- Conspiracy unveiled: The plot to assassinate Siddique was allegedly hatched in Pune. The suspects had conducted reconnaissance of Siddique’s home and office in Mumbai over 1.5 to 2 months. “The motive behind the killing will be ascertained once the wanted accused are arrested,” a police official said.
- Political reactions: Shiv Sena leaders have weighed in on the murder, with Sanjay Nirupam urging political parties to avoid exploiting the incident for political gain, while Sanjay Raut criticized the Maharashtra government for the rise in gang-related violence.
- Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said,“…The way Baba Siddique was murdered is a matter of concern. The government has taken it as a challenge. It is a challenge for the government.”
- Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Rautsaid: I had said earlier also that under this government, gang wars and the power of the underworld in Mumbai can increase. This government also has the support of the underworld, and that underworld is being run from Gujarat.”
- Salman Khan to apologise: BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav advised Bollywood actor Salman Khan to apologise to the Bishnoi community, following a claim by the alleged mastermind’s brother, Shubham Lonkar, that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder.
“Dear Salman Khan, the Bishnoi community worships the blackbuck as a deity. You hunted it, cooked it, and ate it. The community has been angry for a long time because of this. My good advice is to apologize and make amends,” his post read.
