The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken responsibility for the killing of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique. The 66-year-old was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East, Mumbai, on Saturday night.
Lawrence Bishnoi, the gang leader, is currently lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. He was shifted from Tihar Jail to Sabarmati Jail a few months ago.
According to the police officials, three gunmen were involved in the murder. Of these, two have been apprehended: Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana, and Dharamraj Kashyap, 19, from Uttar Pradesh.
The third shooter has been identified as Shiv Kumar Gautam, also from Uttar Pradesh. A fourth individual, suspected to be the handler, is still at large. The incident, which occurred around 9:30 pm, involved Siddique and his associate being targeted by attackers who fired several shots, fatally hitting the politician in the chest.
Hours after the shooting, the notorious Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the assassination via a social media post. Central agencies are now looking into the post, which is reportedly connected to a Facebook account belonging to Shubuu Lonkar, who, according to reports, may actually be Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar—an associate of the Bishnoi gang.
The Bishnoi network is believed to have close ties to Shubham Lonkar, who was arrested earlier this year in Akola, Maharashtra, for possessing illegal firearms. During his police interrogation, Shubham admitted that he made video calls to interact with Lawrence’s close sibling, Anmol Bishnoi, establishing a connection between him and the infamous gang leader.
The investigation into Siddiqui’s murder has also uncovered that two of the shooters, Dharamraj Kashyap and Shiv Kumar Gautam, come from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh. Both are neighbours and reportedly worked as labourers in Pune before being drawn into crimes.
Bahraich Superintendent of Police (SP) Vrinda Shukla confirmed that while Dharamraj has been apprehended, Shiv Kumar is still at large. Neither had a criminal record in their hometown, but sources suggest they sought to gain notoriety by aligning themselves with the Bishnoi gang, a connection allegedly established during their time in a Punjab jail.
According to the police, the suspects had been monitoring Siddique for months and had inspected his home and workplace. The accused had received weapons just a few days before the murder, and the police disclosed that they had each received Rs 50,000 in advance payment for the hit.
Additionally, Salman Khan’s residence is under more security. The sound of gunshots shook the Bandra area of Mumbai on April 14, when two men riding motorcycles opened fire outside of Khan’s residence. The suspects, who are members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, were accused of murderous plot and other serious charges.
The Bishnoi gang had given an order for Rs 25 lakh for the murder of the actor, according to the chargesheet. The plan was put together between August 2023 and April 2024, a span of several months.
Concerns Pouring Across Party Lines
Political leaders from all parties have expressed their concern over the increasing violence in Maharashtra while also expressing sadness for Siddique’s death.
One of the first people to respond was Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who described Siddique’s assassination as “shocking beyond words.”
In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Kharge said, “The tragic demise of former Maharashtra Minister, Baba Siddique, is shocking beyond words. In this hour of grief, I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and supporters. Justice must be ensured, and the present Maharashtra government must order a thorough and transparent investigation. The culprits must be brought to book at the earliest. Accountability is paramount.”
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also expressed similar sentiments.
“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,” he wrote.
The BJP and opposition parties are engaged in a political slugfest as a result of the assassination. The opposition, the Congress in particular, has declared a “complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra,” despite the BJP’s appeal that the murder not be politicised.
Also Read: Baba Siddique Murder: Delhi Police to Assist in Probe
