Sun Oct 13 19:25:45 UTC 2024: ## Former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique Shot Dead in Mumbai
**Mumbai, October 13, 2024:** Former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his son’s office in Bandra East on Tuesday night, sending shockwaves through the state. The 66-year-old NCP leader succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital shortly after the attack.
The attack took place around 10:30 pm when two assailants, using firecrackers as cover, shot Siddique. Police recovered three bullet casings from the scene. While two assailants, Karnail Singh from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh, have been arrested, one suspect remains at large. The arrested suspects claim allegiance to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, though the gang has not officially taken responsibility.
Police are investigating the motive behind the murder from two angles: Siddique’s involvement in a slum rehabilitation case and his association with Bollywood star Salman Khan, who had previously received threats from the Bishnoi gang.
Following the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned the attack and pledged strict action against those responsible. “No one can take law and order into their own hands,” Shinde stated.
NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar mourned the loss of his “good colleague and a good friend.” He assured that the mastermind behind the attack would be traced and the strictest action would be taken against the accused.
Opposition leaders, however, criticized the government’s inability to protect a political leader with Y category security cover. They demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Shinde and his deputies, questioning the government’s ability to protect common citizens if they couldn’t safeguard a prominent figure like Siddique.
Siddique’s body was shifted to Cooper Hospital for post-mortem examination, while investigations into the murder are ongoing.
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