In a shocking incident, former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was assassinated in Bandra on October 13, despite being under Y-category security protection. The murder, believed to be linked to notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was carried out by three individuals—Dharmaraj Kashyap, Shivkumar Gautam, and Gurnail Singh—who had been surveilling Siddique for months before executing the attack.
Months of Surveillance and Planning
According to police reports, the trio monitored Siddique’s movements for 1.5 to 2 months, staying in a rented room in Mumbai’s Kurla area. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who allegedly orchestrated the murder, provided them with financial support, including a Rs 50,000 advance payment. He also promised an additional Rs 2 lakh after the assassination was completed.
The Day of the Assassination
The attack took place outside Siddique’s son Zeeshan’s office in Bandra around 9:30 PM. Despite the presence of Y-category security, which includes armed police guards, the attackers managed to incapacitate one of the guards using pepper spray. They took advantage of the distraction caused by a Durga Puja procession and firecrackers nearby.
Shivkumar Gautam, one of the shooters, fired six bullets at Siddique, hitting him three times. The assailants then fled the scene through the procession, but their escape plan was disrupted when police officers, responding to wireless alerts, surrounded a nearby park.
Capture of Two Shooters
Dharmaraj Kashyap was caught while trying to scale a park wall, and Gurnail Singh surrendered after discarding his weapon. However, Shivkumar Gautam remains at large. The police recovered two Glock pistols, four magazines loaded with 28 bullets, four mobile phones, and Aadhaar cards from the arrested suspects.
Security Lapses
The ease with which the attackers neutralized Siddique’s security detail has raised serious questions about the adequacy of his protection. While he had three police guards assigned to him, only one was present during the attack. The police guard, incapacitated by pepper spray, was unable to react in time. According to police sources, Siddique had not reported any recent threats or suspicious calls prior to the attack.
Bishnoi and Dawood Ibrahim Links
Lawrence Bishnoi’s involvement has led to speculation about a possible underworld connection, particularly with fugitive Don Dawood Ibrahim. Shubham Lonkar, previously arrested for illegal possession of firearms, claimed on social media that Siddique was targeted due to his alleged links with actor Salman Khan and Dawood Ibrahim.
The investigation is ongoing, with police continuing their search for the third shooter and examining the broader implications of this high-profile assassination.
