Baba Siddique killing: Police have intensified their search for the third shooter linked to the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, scouring places of worship in Ujjain and Khandwa. Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, was shot multiple times outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Mumbai’s Nirmal Nagar on Saturday night. Two bullets struck him in the chest.
According to PTI, officials have arrested three individuals so far: Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, 19, both accused of shooting Siddique, along with alleged co-conspirator Pravin Lonkar from Pune. A fourth suspect, Shivkumar Gautam, the third shooter, is still at large.
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Gautam, originally from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, has been active on social media, showcasing his so-called “gangster” lifestyle. In a post on July 24, he wrote, “Yaar tera gangster hai jaani” (“Your friend is a gangster”) alongside a photo of himself on a motorcycle. Police are also on the lookout for Mohammad Yasin Akhtar, believed to be the “handler” in this case.
On Monday, a senior police official in Khandwa said that the arrested shooters indicated they had visited several places of worship and might do so again while on the run. Both Ujjain and Khandwa are known for their significant temples, including the Mahakal and Omkareshwar temples, which draw thousands of visitors daily.
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Despite ongoing searches, Ujjain police stated that no leads have emerged so far. A Mumbai police team arrived in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, just a day after Siddique’s murder. Authorities are investigating various angles, including potential contract killing, business or political rivalry, and threats related to a slum rehabilitation project. Mumbai police have established 15 teams to track individuals connected to this high-profile murder.
Gautam, who hails from Gandara village in Bahraich, reportedly has no prior criminal record, having recently worked in a scrap shop in Pune. His social media posts reveal a penchant for flaunting his “gangster” persona, with one recent video set to music from the film “KGF,” featuring the dialogue, “Powerful people make places powerful.”
Lonkar, the third accused, has been remanded in police custody until October 21. He is accused of recruiting two shooters for the attack on Siddique. His brother, Shubham Lonkar, who is still at large, is believed to have connections with the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
In another development, Punjab police have identified Yasin Akhtar, a 21-year-old from Jalandhar district, as a suspect in the killing. He has a criminal history, including nine serious charges, and is believed to have ties to gangster Vikram Brar. Akhtar was previously arrested in June 2022 and has not returned to his village since his release in June 2024.