NCP leader Baba Siddiqui shot dead

 

 

NATIONALIST Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by three men in Mumbai’s Bandra area on Saturday, and two of the assailants have been arrested, officials said. Siddique (66), a former Congressman, was admitted at the Lilavati Hospital but succumbed to the injuries. He was attacked outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddiqui’s office near Colgate ground in Nirmal Nagar, Bandra East, police said. Baba Siddique had represented Bandra (West) seat three times in the Assembly. A prominent Muslim leader from Mumbai, Siddique was also known be close to several Bollywood stars. The shocking incident prompted the Opposition to question the law and order situation in the State where Assembly elections are expected to be held next month. In a condolence message on X, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar described the attack as extremely unfortunate and condemnable. “I was shocked on learning that he died in this incident,” Pawar said, adding that he had lost a good friend and colleague.

 

“We have lost a leader who fought for the minority community and championed secularism,” he said, adding that a thorough probe would be conducted into the attack. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said earlier that Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar had told him that two alleged shooters have been taken into custody. One of them is from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Haryana, while a third accused fled from the spot, the Chief Minister told TV channels. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, arrived at Lilavati Hospital some time after the incident. Siddiqui had joined the Ajit Pawar-led NCP only this year. NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar said the deteriorating law and order situation was worrying. It was also alarming that the situation was being handled so lightly, Pawar said as he targeted Home Minister Fadnavis. The ruling party should take responsibly and quit, the senior Pawar said in his post on X. Balasaheb Thorat, leader of the Congress legislature party in Maharashtra Assembly, said a leader from the ruling party with Y-category security was shot dead, which raises serious questions on the law and order situation.

 

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the murder was shocking. “This, sadly, reflects on the law and order situation in Maharashtra. The complete collapse of administration, law and order,” Thackeray said. NCP working president Praful Patel, a close friend of Siddiqui, said he was at a loss for words. BJP leader and former Congressman Ashok Chavan said he had worked with Siddiqui when both were in the grand old party, adding the news was shocking. In a post on X, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, the party’s in-charge for Maharashtra, said he was deeply shocked at the death of a “dear friend from my Youth Congress days”. Last rites of Baba Siddique performed with full state honours in Mumbai: LAST rites of former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique was performed with full state honours in Mumbai at Bada Qabrastan with full state honours on Sunday. He was murdered in Mumbai on Saturday. NCP leaders including, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and Ajit Pawar were present at the Bada Qabrastan during the last rites of Baba Siddique.

 

THE Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique. A Facebook post, purportedly by a gang member, said that the murder was due to Siddique’s ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan and underworld figures -- Anuj Thapan and Dawood Ibrahim. The post by Shubuu Lonkar Maharashtra wrote, “Om, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat I understand the value of life, consider wealth and the body as dust. I did only what was right, honoured the duty of friendship. Salman Khan, we did not want this war but you made our brother lose his life. Today those praising Baba Siddique or was with Dawood under the MCOCA Act. The reason for his death was his linking of Dawood and Anuj Thapan to Bollywood, politics, and property dealings.”

 

The writer goes on to say in the post, “We have no enmity with anyone. However, anyone who helps Salman Khan or the Dawood gang should be prepared. If anyone gets any of our brothers killed, we will definitely respond. We never strike first. Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat, salute to the martyrs.” The veracity of the post was to be confirmed by the police. The post, however, has gone viral on social media. According to the Mumbai Police, three shooters were involved in the murder. Out of the three, two have been arrested -- Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap, 19, from Uttar Pradesh.

 

The third has been identified as Shiv Kumar, also from Uttar Pradesh and police suspect the involvement of a fourth person, believed to be the handler. Both are on the run. Siddique and his associate were targeted by the attackers at around 9.30 PM on Saturday. Hours after the attack, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the killing. Sources said the suspects had been monitoring Siddique for months, conducting reconnaissance of his residence and office. They were paid Rs 50,000 each in advance for the attack and the weapons had been delivered to them only days before the attack.