Mumbai, India — Shockwaves rippled through Mumbai last week following the assassination of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique outside his son’s office on October 12. In a chilling orchestrated attack, three gunmen unleashed six bullets, killing Siddique and leaving another bystander, Raj Kanojia, injured near a local temple, according to police reports.
The violence erupted shockingly in broad daylight, and the chaos of the aftermath was captured in a video circulated on social media. In the footage, bystanders and police can be seen desperately trying to manage the scene, with a man with leg injuries visible on the pavement, his wounds hastily bandaged with cloth.
Law enforcement officials disclosed that the assault was purportedly a contract killing, targeting not only Siddique but also his associate, Zeeshan, whose full details haven’t been clarified. At the time of the attack, Siddique, despite his prominent status, was accompanied by just one police officer from his non-categorized security detail, which typically included three constables working different shifts.
The attackers identified as Gurmel Baljit Singh, Dharmaraj Kashyap, and Shivkumar Gautam hailed from Uttar Pradesh. Their initial plan was to execute the shootings amid the noise and distraction of a nearby Dussehra festival procession. According to police, the heavy presence of people and security at the scene caused a temporary hesitation among the assailants. However, Shivkumar declared he would fire first, leading the deadly assault.
Armed not only with guns but also with chilli powder and pepper spray, the attackers created a brief moment of confusion immediately after the shooting. This allowed Shivkumar to escape using the dense crowd as cover, while the other two were apprehended. From the arrested duo, authorities recovered two pistols and 28 rounds of ammunition.
During interrogations, Singh and Kashyap positioned Shivkumar as the mastermind, claiming ignorance of the broader conspiracy. They purported themselves as mere foot soldiers, coerced into participation without full knowledge of the orchestrator’s identity.
Adding to the intrigue, the suspects alleged connections to incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is associated with various high-profile criminal activities, including a previous attack near Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s residence. Khan, a known acquaintance and supporter of Siddique, had previously hosted the politician at numerous Bollywood events, hinting at possible motives rooted in deeper rivalries.
Investigations revealed that the trio had been stalking Siddique, closely monitoring his movements around his residence and office for months. Each had received an advance of Rs 50,000, with the weapons supplied mere days before carrying out the assassination.
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde responded to the incident, ensuring the public and press that efforts were aggressively ongoing to apprehend the remaining fugitive, hinting at an imminent resolution to this glaring breach of public safety.
Reflecting on the incident, security analysts emphasize that this assassination underscores the challenging landscape of political security and the insidious reach of organized crime within the region. The episode not only highlights the vulnerabilities of public figures but also the complex interplay of underworld activities disrupting peace and governance in India’s bustling metropolises.