A senior politician in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, was shot dead on Saturday, just weeks before crucial state elections, prompting an investigation into the involvement of a notorious crime gang.
Baba Siddique, 66, a local lawmaker and former Maharashtra state minister, was shot multiple times in the chest outside his son’s office, according to Indian media.
Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, who is from the same party as Siddique, expressed his shock at the “cowardly attack.”
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The Hindustan Times reported that two suspects have been arrested, while police are actively searching for another individual involved in the incident.
NDTV reported that the two suspects claimed to be part of a gang led by Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently in jail facing charges related to multiple killings.
The shooting occurred just weeks after Siddique’s security detail was upgraded due to death threats he had received, and just ahead of elections scheduled for later this year.
“The incident will be thoroughly investigated and strict action will be taken against the attackers,” Pawar said in a statement. “The mastermind behind the attack will also be traced.”
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Siddique was well-connected with numerous Bollywood stars and was known for hosting extravagant parties.
In 2023, in Uttar Pradesh, another politician, Atiq Ahmad, who had over 100 criminal cases against him, was shot dead on live television while being escorted by police for a medical checkup.
As he spoke to journalists, a gunman approached and shot him in the head, firing multiple additional rounds. Ahmad’s brother, Ashraf, was also killed in the attack.
This incident occurred just two days after Ahmad’s son, Asad, was killed by police in what many viewed as an extrajudicial execution.
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