Ganesh Kendale
Zeeshan Siddique, whose father Baba Siddique was shot dead in Bandra East last week, appealed for justice on Thursday while also saying that the NCP leader‘s death must “not go in vain”.
“My father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of poor innocent people. Today, my family is broken but his death must not be politicised and definitely not go in vain.I need justice, my family needs justice!”
Ex-minister Baba Siddique was killed outside Zeeshan’s office on Saturday.
During interrogation, the suspects revealed they had orders to kill both Baba and Zeeshan Siddique, and they were to fire at anyone they found.
The suspected shooters had made more than 10 failed attempts to kill him in and around Bandra in the past month.
The shooters involved in the killing of Baba Siddique learned to handle firearms by watching YouTube videos.
Mumbai police’s crime branch, currently investigating the case, found that suspected shooter Shivkumar Gautam, now on the run, first learned firearm handling during celebratory firings at weddings in Uttar Pradesh.
Two other arrested suspects, Gurmail Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap, disclosed that Gautam was hired for his expertise in firearms.
The group trained at a rented house in Kurla, practicing without bullets. Since they couldn’t find a suitable space for live practice, they relied on YouTube videos for nearly four weeks to learn loading and unloading techniques.
Another alleged conspirator, Shubham Lonkar, had been under police surveillance until September 24, after being questioned in June about a shooting incident outside actor Salman Khan’s residence.
Shubham was suspected of having ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
In January, Shubham was arrested under the Arms Act in Akola, Maharashtra, where over ten firearms were seized. He was later released on bail.
On Tuesday, a Mumbai court sent the fourth accused arrested in connection with the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique sent to police custody till October 21.
A 23-year-old man, Harishkumar Balakram, from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested for allegedly providing financial and logistical support to the shooters.
Earlier, police had detained Gurmail Baljit Singh, Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, both alleged shooters, and Pravin Lonkar, identified as a co-conspirator.
