A senior Indian politician, Baba Siddique, 66, was tragically shot dead in Mumbai on Saturday, just weeks before crucial state elections. Siddique, a former minister in Maharashtra state, was gunned down outside his son’s office, with reports indicating he sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. This brazen attack has sent shockwaves through India’s political circles, particularly as police investigate the possible involvement of a notorious crime gang.
Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and a member of Siddique’s party, expressed his deep shock, condemning the attack as cowardly. In a swift response, local law enforcement agencies have arrested two suspects and are in pursuit of a third individual. Initial investigations suggest that the suspects may be affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, an organization linked to multiple killings. Bishnoi, currently incarcerated, is believed to be orchestrating operations from behind bars.
Siddique had recently received death threats, prompting authorities to upgrade his security detail. The attack is now under intense scrutiny as police vow to track down not only the perpetrators but also the masterminds behind the murder. Pawar assured the public that thorough investigations will be conducted and that the attackers will face justice.
Siddique, a popular figure in Mumbai, was well-known in Bollywood circles and famous for hosting lavish parties. His killing brings back memories of the 2023 assassination of Atiq Ahmad, a politician in Uttar Pradesh, who was shot dead live on television. Ahmad’s brother Ashraf was also killed in the same attack, which occurred shortly after Ahmad’s son was fatally shot by police in what many saw as an extra-judicial killing.
The murder of Baba Siddique has heightened tensions in the run-up to the elections, further complicating an already volatile political landscape. Authorities are working round the clock to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and to prevent any further escalation of violence.
