Baba Siddique Murder: Recent developments in the investigation of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique’s murder have revealed unusual methods employed by the accused shooters.
According to a police official cited by PTI, the three alleged assailants learned firearm handling through YouTube tutorials while staying in Mumbai’s Kurla area.
Accused learnt to use weapons from YouTube
Two of the accused, Gurmail Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap, have been arrested, while Shivkumar Gautam remains at large. A fourth suspect, Harish Kumar Balakram Nisad, was apprehended in Uttar Pradesh and transferred to Mumbai.
The official stated, “The accused spent nearly four weeks watching these videos and learnt how to load and unload a weapon.” Lacking an open space for practice, they resorted to “dry practice” – shooting without bullets – in their rented accommodation.
Who was the key shooter of Baba Siddique’s Murder?
Interrogations revealed that Gautam, still a fugitive, was designated as the “main shooter” due to his prior experience with firearms from celebratory firings in his native Bahraich. He allegedly trained Singh and Kashyap in weapon handling.
To evade surveillance, the suspects communicated via social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat. Shubham Lonkar, a member of Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang who claimed responsibility for the murder on Facebook, reportedly instructed the accused to use these platforms. The official noted, “Snapchat has a feature which automatically deletes most messages after they are viewed or expire.”
4 accused in Baba Siddique murder held by Mumbai Police
Shubham Lonkar, brother of arrested co-conspirator Pravin Lonkar, is currently sought by police, having been previously arrested in an Arms Act case but later released on bail. Authorities are also pursuing Shivkumar Gautam and alleged mastermind Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar.
This case highlights the evolving tactics of criminal elements, utilizing online resources and social media to plan and execute crimes while attempting to avoid detection.
