In a new twist to Baba Siddique shootout, the two suspects Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, 19, from Uttar Pradesh were arrested on Saturday late night after they had opened fore on 66-year old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader inside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East. Both the shooters have accepted their association with the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The third one, Shiv Kumar, also from UP is on the run. Mumbai Police said they would get him would crack the case soon. However, the gang is yet to take responsibility for the murder.
The two shooters were grilled all through the night. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “If Mumbai goes back to the early days of gang wars then such menace would not be tolerated. Every step would be taken to crush such ailments.” The incident has spread scare waves across the city in wake of Maharashtra Assembly elections knocking at the door. The blame game politics have started with the opposition expressing distrust in the Shinde regime and demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister. Opposition have also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating India has become save heavens for criminals. Nothing new though in a state where election is going to take place as opposition will try to use the situation to their utmost political gains.
The Mumbai Police is analyzing the case from all aspects including the possibility of Lawrence Bishnoi behind the gruesome murder especially after a social media post which went viral, states the Bishnoi gang targeted Siddiqui because of his close ties to Bollywood actor Salman Khan and alleged links to underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim. The gang also mentioned the name of Anuj Thapan, an accused in the firing incident outside Khan’s home, who later died by committing suicide in police custody.
The post read, “Om, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat,” followed by, “I understand the essence of life, and consider wealth and the body as dust. I did only what was right, honouring the duty of friendship.” The post further read, “There was no personal enmity with anyone but if anyone who helps Salman Khan or the Dawood gang should be prepared. If anyone gets any of our brothers killed, we will respond. We never strike first. Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat, salute to the martyrs.” A member of the gang Shubuu Lonkar, on Facebook addressed Salman Khan and said they did not want to start the war but Salman Khan had harmed their brother. The Mumbai Police is trying to verify its authenticity.
Both the shooters have been sent to police custody till October 21, 2024.
