NCP Ajit Pawar faction leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three attackers in Mumbai's Bandra on Saturday. Baba Siddique, a Congress turncoat, was shot outside his son and MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui's office near Colgate ground in Mumbai's Nirmal Nagar. The former state minister has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital where he later succumbed. A three-term MLA from Mumbai's Bandra West assembly constituency, Siddique had joined the NCP in February after cutting ties with the Congress.
Here is what we know so far about the murder of Baba Siddique in Mumbai:
- Two of the three assailants belived to be involved in the gunning down of Baba Siddique have been arrested by the Mumbai Police. One of the arrested men hailed from Haryana while the other was an Uttar Pradesh native, Hindustan Times quoted Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as saying. The efforts to nab the third attacker is on.
- ".... I have asked the police to take strict action and ensure no one takes law and order into their hands. A gang-war-like situation should not be allowed to resurface in Mumbai," the chief minister reportedly said.
- According to news agency PTI, two or three rounds were fired by the three assailants at Baba Siddique around 9:30 PM. One of the bullets struck him in the chest while another injured his aid, reports said.
- Reacting to the murder, Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said on X, "The incident of firing on NCP leader, former Minister of State, my colleague Baba Siddiqui who has been in the Legislature for a long time is very unfortunate, condemnable and painful. I was shocked to know that he died in this incident. I have lost my good colleague, and friend. I strongly condemn this cowardly attack. I offer my heartfelt tributes to Baba Siddiqui."