The two suspects arrested in the killing of NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique have claimed they belong to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, the Mumbai police have confirmed on Sunday, October 13.
As per India Today, the third accused in Baba Siddique's murder has been identified as Shiv Kumar, a native of Uttar Pradesh. He had been working for a scrap dealer in Pune for about 5-6 years. According to sources, he called one of the accused, Dharmaraj, to Pune for work a few months ago.
The body of NCP leader Baba Siddique was brought to his residence in Bandra this afternoon after the postmortem. The former minister will be buried with full state honours at around 8.30 pm today, October 13.
*Inna lillahi wa Inna ilayhi raji'un*
— Zeeshan Siddique (@zeeshan_iyc) October 13, 2024
With Immense Grief, We inform you that Our Beloved *Shri. Baba Siddique*, Father of MLA *Shri. Zeeshan Baba Siddique* & *Dr. Arshia Siddique* & Husband of *Mrs. Shehzeen Siddique* has left for his Heavenly Abode.
Namaz E Janaza - Today…
According to reports, the Mumbai police Crime Branch has said that a total of 6 rounds of bullets were fired at Baba Siddique, out of which 3 bullets hit the NCP leader leading to his death on late Saturday night, October 12.
The assassination of Siddique marks the first high-profile political murder in Mumbai in nearly three decades.
The attack occurred just ahead of the anticipated Assembly elections set for November.
In June this year, a 19-second video clip purportedly showing jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in conversation with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti went viral online. After his name emerged in Siddique's killing, people on the internet pointed out the video, citing it as an example of jail authorities aiding him to continue his criminal activities.
A Facebook post by a gang member, which has now gone viral, said the murder was due to Siddique's ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan and underworld figures Dawood Ibrahim and Anuj Thapan.
Siddique shared a close association with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who has repeatedly faced threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and associates.
The rivalry between Bollywood star Salman Khan and the Bishnoi gang stems from the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, where Khan was accused of killing two blackbucks, animals sacred to the Bishnoi community. Outraged by the incident, the community pursued legal action, leading to Khan's 2018 conviction, though he was granted bail.