MUMBAI — The assassination of prominent politician Baba Ziauddin Siddique, popularly known as Baba Siddique, has sent shockwaves across India, reigniting memories of Mumbai’s violent underworld era. Siddique, 66, was shot on Saturday night near his car while leaving his son’s office in the bustling Bandra area. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries, according to a report by BBC.
Siddique, a key political figure in Maharashtra, was part of the coalition government in the state. The motive behind the murder remains unclear, but authorities have arrested three suspects. Local media reports suggest the men are linked to the notorious Bishnoi gang, whose leader is currently imprisoned.
Siddique, who had switched from Congress to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in February, was well-known for his political career and his high-profile Iftar parties that drew Bollywood stars, including the famous 2013 reconciliation between actors Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan.
The assassination is the first high-profile killing of a politician in Mumbai since the 1990s, a time when political figures and celebrities were frequent targets of organized crime.
How Baba Siddique was killed?
Police reports indicate that three shooters fired six to seven rounds, hitting Siddique in the abdomen and chest. A bystander was also injured by a stray bullet. The suspects reportedly distracted Siddique’s security detail by setting off a smoke firecracker before opening fire.
Authorities recovered two pistols and 28 live rounds from the arrested men. Investigations are ongoing to identify their accomplices, with 15 police teams working on the case. While a Facebook post claimed the Bishnoi gang was behind the murder, police have yet to officially confirm this connection.
Political reactions and fallout
Siddique’s killing has triggered a political blame game ahead of Maharashtra’s upcoming Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the murder a “complete failure of law and order,” while Delhi’s former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed concern, saying the incident had frightened not only the people of Maharashtra but the entire country.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured the public that the culprits would face justice, whether linked to the Bishnoi gang or any other criminal group. “The safety of those receiving threats is the state government’s responsibility, and we will fulfil it,” Shinde said.
Siddique had reportedly received death threats two weeks before his killing, prompting an upgrade in his security detail. Despite the enhanced security, his assassination has left the state government under pressure to strengthen law and order amidst growing concerns.