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Siddique's Murder Raises a Furore
Shocking as it may seem, former NCP leader and noted politician Baba Siddique was murdered in broad daylight in Mumbai. According to reports, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken responsibility for attacking him on lines of the motivation to kill him due to his alleged connections with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and Anuj Thapan.
Lawrence Bishnoi Gang's Assassination Threat
According to a viral Facebook post by a gang member of the Bishnois, associating with Salman Khan is what made him kill Siddique. The post was replete with religious overtones and threats to those aligning or associated with the Bollywood actor or Dawood's network. According to him, he has been in a sort of war with the Bollywood actor as far back as the infamous 1998 blackbuck poaching case that outraged the Bishnoi community.
Salman Khan’s Connection to the Case
After Salman Khan was found to be guilty of the blackbuck case, Lawrence Bishnoi gang was able to inflate their rivalry with the actor. The actor has been facing several threats allegedly sent to him by Lawrence Bishnoi gang since his release from jail on bail in 2018. In 2022, it is reported that Bishnoi gang has sent a letter to the actor, threatening him, allegedly referring to the singer Sidhu Moosewala's murder. With the threats against Khan, he was compelled to raise security; Khan has since been provided with Y+ category protection, besides being issued a licence to carry a firearm for safety.
Investigation is underway
It happened around his son's office at Bandra, Mumbai. His saving attempts were futile, and he finally succumbed to the injuries suffered when he was shifted from Lilavati to Cooper Hospital. The Mumbai Police have arrested two, while one is still on the run. They are probing all kinds of motives-they range from business rivalries to slum rehabilitation project disputes and even contract killing.
Political Fallout
For Maharashtra, this assassination is a shock bomb on the eve of state assembly elections. The influence Siddique wielded in both politics and Bollywood makes his murder the first high-profile political murder in Mumbai since the 1990s. The opposition has been targeting the state's law and order situation.
The Bishnoi Gang Notoriety
Infamy has been bestowed on Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang through high profile crimes and threats. Bishnoi is of the belief that he has protected his community, and Salman Khan, being a culprit from the blackbuck incident, is an ideal target for him. The rising influence of the gang questions the level of safety in the country, especially in the wake of such audacious attacks on political figures such as Siddique.
Safety in Modern India
While India continues to improve public safety, an incident like Siddique's murder reminds it of dangers constantly lurking from a section of organized crime syndicates, in this case, the Bishnoi gang. This brazen killing highlights the facts that challenges to curbing gang activity continue unabated, and the authorities now will have to concentrate on justice while rebuilding public confidence in law and order.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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