Muslim politician in India’s Maharashtra shot dead weeks before state polls

Two suspects are successful custody aft Baba Siddique was changeable aggregate times extracurricular his legislator son’s bureau successful Mumbai.

A elder Muslim person successful India’s fiscal superior Mumbai has been changeable dormant weeks earlier a cardinal authorities election, with constabulary probing the relation of a notorious transgression gang.

Baba Siddique, 66, a three-time legislator and erstwhile curate successful Maharashtra state, was changeable aggregate times extracurricular the bureau of his son, besides a legislator, successful Mumbai connected Saturday night, constabulary said successful a statement.

He aboriginal succumbed to his wounds astatine the city’s Lilavati Hospital.

Siddique was associated with the main absorption Congress enactment for decades but had precocious joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – a determination enactment that governs Maharashtra successful conjugation with different determination group, the Shiv Sena, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Assembly elections successful Maharashtra are expected to beryllium held successful November.

Siddique, left, with Bollywood histrion Salman Khan during an predetermination rally successful 2009 [File: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters]

The shooting came weeks aft Siddique’s information item was upgraded erstwhile helium reportedly received decease threats.

News bureau Press Trust of India reported that 2 suspected attackers had been arrested, and constabulary were searching for another.

Broadcaster NDTV said the 2 suspects claimed they were portion of a pack tally by Lawrence Bishnoi, who is successful jailhouse accused of moving a transgression pack that has carried retired aggregate killings.

Police officers and reporters astatine the country wherever Siddique was changeable successful Mumbai [Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters]

Siddique was besides adjacent to respective Bollywood superstars and was known for throwing lavish parties.

Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP radical that Siddique belonged to, said helium was “shocked” by the killing.

“The incidental volition beryllium thoroughly investigated and strict enactment volition beryllium taken against the attackers. The mastermind down the onslaught volition besides beryllium traced,” Pawar said successful a connection connected X.

“This is not a clip for part oregon for exploiting the symptom of others for governmental advantage. Right now, our absorption indispensable beryllium connected ensuring that justness is served.”

The NCP has been devastated by the tragic nonaccomplishment of Shri Baba Siddique, a person profoundly loved by many, and personally, I person mislaid a beloved person whom I person known for years. We are heartbroken, struggling to grasp the cruelty of this incident. This is not conscionable a governmental loss—it’s…

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) October 13, 2024

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