Inside the murder of Indian politician Baba Siddique
The assassination of prominent politician Baba Ziauddin Siddique in Mumbai has sent shockwaves across the nation. Baba Siddique, 66, was shot multiple times on Saturday night as he was leaving his son’s office in the busy Bandra area. He later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Siddique was a notable figure in Maharashtra’s ruling coalition, having recently transitioned from the Congress Party to the Nationalist Congress Party. His murder has ignited a political blame game, with many demanding accountability from state authorities amid growing concerns over law and order.
The motive behind Siddique’s murder remains unclear, but it has drawn unsettling parallels to the 1990s, a decade when Mumbai’s underworld frequently targeted politicians and celebrities. The assassination has rekindled memories of a violent past characterized by high-profile killings.
Details of the attack
Witnesses reported that three gunmen approached Baba Siddique as he prepared to enter his vehicle, with the attackers firing six to seven rounds, striking him in the abdomen and chest.
A stray bullet also injured a bystander. Following the attack, police apprehended three suspects connected to a notorious gang, and investigators recovered two firearms along with 28 rounds of ammunition from the arrested individuals.
Authorities noted that Baba Siddique had been under police protection, having recently upgraded his security after receiving a death threat. Reports suggest that the assailants distracted his security detail by setting off a smoke firecracker, facilitating their escape.
Ongoing investigation
The police have been granted custody of the suspects for a week as investigations continue. Senior police official Datta Nalawade stated that 15 teams have been established to track down additional accomplices involved in the attack.
Although not officially confirmed, sources have linked the suspects to the infamous Bishnoi gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently incarcerated in a high-security prison.
Shortly after the shooting, an individual claiming to be affiliated with the Bishnoi gang posted on social media, alleging responsibility for Siddique’s murder. However, the authenticity of this claim has yet to be verified by authorities.
Political fallout
Siddique’s murder marks the first major assassination of a politician in Mumbai since the violent wave of the 1990s, raising alarms among citizens and political leaders alike. Local media reports indicated that he had received threats prior to his death, prompting increased security measures that ultimately proved insufficient.
The timing of this incident, occurring just weeks before the upcoming state assembly elections, has intensified scrutiny on the Maharashtra government.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the murder as a “complete failure of law and order.” At the same time, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal emphasized that the incident has instilled fear not only in Maharashtra but across the entire nation.
In response to the growing public outcry, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vowed that those responsible would face justice, asserting, “The culprits will not be spared, regardless of their affiliations.”
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