The murder of a politician in a busy area of Mumbai, India, has caused a stir throughout the country. Baba Ziauddin Siddique, 66, was shot Saturday night as he was exiting his son’s office and later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Siddique, a prominent politician in the coalition government of Maharashtra state—of which Mumbai is the capital—has sparked a political blame game with his death. While the motive remains unclear, many are reminded of the 1990s when Mumbai’s underworld often targeted politicians and film stars.
So far, police have arrested three individuals, believed to be members of a notorious gang with a leader currently imprisoned. The shooting occurred in the crowded Bandra area, where Siddique was attacked as he approached his vehicle. Reports indicate that three shooters fired six to seven shots, striking Siddique in the abdomen and chest, while a bystander was injured by a stray bullet. Investigators recovered two guns and 28 live rounds from the suspects. Despite having three police guards—whose security measures had reportedly been heightened just days prior—the guards were distracted by a smoke firecracker set off by the attackers.
The police have been granted a week of custody for the arrested men and are actively searching for their accomplices. Senior police official Datta Nalawade announced that 15 teams are investigating to identify those who may have provided logistical support to the shooters. Several reports hint that the suspects are associated with the infamous Bishnoi gang, led by the incarcerated Lawrence Bishnoi, who faces multiple charges and resides in a high-security prison in Gujarat. After the shooting, an individual claiming to be part of the Bishnoi gang posted on Facebook, asserting responsibility for Siddique’s murder, although police have not verified this claim.
Despite being incarcerated since 2015, Bishnoi remains a prominent figure in the news, with various social media accounts allegedly linked to him sharing selfies from jail and even granting interviews in 2022, prompting investigations. The Bishnoi gang has also been tied to the 2022 murder of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala. Moreover, in April, two gang members were arrested for allegedly firing shots outside actor Salman Khan’s apartment in Mumbai. Canadian authorities recently suggested that the Bishnoi group may have links to Indian government agents using the gang to target Sikh separatists abroad, although India has not officially commented on these allegations.
Siddique’s assassination marks the first significant political killing in Mumbai since the 1990s, a period notorious for high-profile murders involving politicians, businessmen, and Bollywood figures by criminal organizations. Local reports indicate that Siddique had received a death threat two weeks prior, prompting an upgrade in his security. His murder, occurring shortly before the upcoming assembly elections, has put the state government on the defensive. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the situation as “a complete failure of law and order in Maharashtra,” while former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal remarked that the incident instilled fear not just in Maharashtra, but across the entire nation. In response, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vowed that those responsible would face repercussions, regardless of their affiliations, asserting the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of individuals facing threats.
