Bishnoi Gang Linked To Baba Siddiqui Shootout, 6 identified & 3 Arrested; Cryptic Post Raises Alarm

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang through a social media post has allegedly claimed responsibility for the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. The NCP leader, 66, was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Mumbai's Bandra East on Saturday night. The purported social media post, which was later deleted, claimed Bishnoi gang behind the shocking murder.

Three shooters were involved in the execution of the crime but there were more people involved, according to police. So far out of the three shooters, two have been arrested - Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana and Dharamraj Rajesh Kashyap, 19, from Uttar Pradesh - and the third has been identified as Shiv Kumar Gautam, also from UP. Another person named Pravin Lonkar, 28, has been arrested by Mumbai Police on Sunday from Pune. Lonkar and his own brother had allegedly “enlisted” two of the three shooters.

It is suspected that Pravin Lonkar’s brother Subham, with an user handle Shubuu Lonkar had put out a cryptic post on Facebook linking the the killing of the NCP leader with a plot. In the Facebook post from Shubuu Lonkar, claimed that Siddiqui was targeted due to his alleged ties to India's most wanted terrorist, Dawood Ibrahim. According to the Facebook post, which was later deleted, it was claimed that the killing had connection to Salman Khan, and the death of Anuj Thapan, a suspect in the shooting outside Salman Khan's house. Thapan was found dead in police custody on May 1. Police had called Thapan’s death a suicide but his family had alleged torture in police custody.

The purported Facebook post read: “Salman Khan, hum ye jang nahi chahte the, pr tumne hamare bhai ka nuksaan karwaya...hamari kisi se koi dushmani nahi hai par jo bhi Salman Khan or Dawood gang ki help karega, apna hisab kitab laga ke rakhna... [Salman Khan, we did’nt want this war, but you have harmed our brother...we have no enmity with anyone, but whoever helps Salman Khan or Dawood gang, do watch out].”

The purported post further added: "Iske marne ka karan Anuj Thapan and Dawood ko Bollywood, politics and property dealing se jodna tha. [The reason for his death was to connect Anuj Thapan and Dawood with Bollywood, politics and property dealing]”. Subham Lonkar is still on the run.

A sixth person, believed to be the handler, is also on the run. He has been identified as Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar from Punjab’s Jalandhar. Akhtar hails from Shakar village in Nakodar of Jalandhar which criminal history. In 2022, he was arrested by police for organised crime including murder, robbery, and was sent to Patiala jail. Inside the jail Akhtar, according to police had come in contact of members of Bishnoi gang. The conspiracy was hatched then, claim police. After being released from jail on June 7, Akhtar traveled to Kaithal to meet Gurmel (one of the shooters). The shooters then proceeded to Mumbai, where they established a base. Akhtar has also provided the logistical support to the shooters, helped them with the location of Siddiqui. He is still on the run.

The conspiracy was hatched keeping in mind the Dussera festivities, the shooters wanted to take advantage of sound of firecrackers during the celebrations. Akhtar, as per police had coordinated with the shooters all through out and the location Kher Nagar was also identified by him.

Siddique, a leader of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was ambushed by three shooters at 9.30 pm on the busy road of Kher Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra East area, just outside the office of his MLA son, Zeeshan Siddique. He had sustained multiple bullets, including two on his chest. He was rushed to Lilavati hospital where he was declared dead.