The police probe into the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique has revealed a Jalandhar man, identified as Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, as the kingpin of the killing. Akhtar reportedly met members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in Patiala jail after being arrested by local police.
Akhtar, a resident of Shakar of Nakodar in Jalandhar, ended up in Patiala jail after being arrested in 2022 for organised crime, murder and robbery. There he was introduced to the members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang. He is said to have received instructions to go to Mumbai to orchestrate the murder of Baba Siddique.
On being released from jail this July, Akhtar first met Gurmail Baljit Singh, one of the shooters. Both left for Mumbai where they met the two other shooters, Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar.
He then began planning the murder of Siddique, following the NCP leader's movements. He also handled the Kashyap, Singh and Shivkumar, giving them directions and instructions. He is also said to have provided the shooters the logistical support in Mumbai, including the room for them to stay.
On Saturday night, the shooters waylaid Siddique at Kher Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra area outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office. They fired at the politician who suffered bullet wounds to his chest. That the incident happened amid cracker bursts, as part of Durga Puja festivities, masked the gunshot sound. This also allowed the attackers to take advantage of the situation.
Baba Siddique collapsed immediately. Though he was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital, he was declared dead.
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Akhtar fled the scene after the shooting. While Gumail and Kashyap ended up in police custody, the hunt for Shivkumar and Akthar still continues.
Meanwhile, the police said the shooters were also carrying pepper spray with them. Though they were planning to use it to immobilise Baba Siddique, they did not use it as Shivkumar began firing immediately, according to Hindustan Times.
Though three constables were with Baba Siddiqui at the time of the murder since he reported receiving death threats, they couldn't do much.