Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims Baba Siddique murder, sends Salman Khan a message

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for killing NCP leader Baba Siddique. In a Facebook post, a gang member claimed Siddique's ties to Bollywood actor Salman Khan led to his murder.

In Short

• Lawrence Bishnoi gang member claims responsibility in Facebook post
• Claims Baba Siddique's 'ties' to Salman Khan, Dawood led to his murder
• Post mentions revenge and issues warning to Salman Khan's 'associates'

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang on Sunday claimed responsibility for the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. The 66-year-old veteran politician was shot dead outside his office in Mumbai's Bandra during Dussehra celebrations on Saturday night.

A Facebook post by a gang member, which quickly went viral, said the gang targeted Siddique because of his close ties to Bollywood actor Salman Khan and alleged links to underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim. The post also mentioned Anuj Thapan, an accused in the firing incident outside Khan's home, who later died by suicide in police custody.

In the post, the gang member wrote, "Om, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat," followed by, "I understand the essence of life, and consider wealth and the body as dust. I did only what was right, honouring the duty of friendship."

The post goes on to say, "Salman Khan, we did not want this war but you made our brother lose his life. Today the pool of decency of Baba Siddique is closed or at one time he was under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) with Dawood. The reason for his death was his links to Dawood and Anuj Thapan in Bollywood, politics, and property dealings."

"We have no personal enmity with anyone. However, anyone who helps Salman Khan or the Dawood gang should be prepared. If anyone gets any of our brothers killed, we will respond. We never strike first. Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat, salute to the martyrs," the post further read.

After the post went viral, the Mumbai Police said they are examining its authenticity.

BABA SIDDIQUE KILLED: PROBE SO FAR

Baba Siddique was accosted by three men, who came out of a vehicle and, under the cover of the noise of bursting firecrackers, opened fire at the NCP leader. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Mumbai Police sources told India Today TV that Siddique's murder was carried out by contract killers. They are also probing the involvement of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, as the accused allegedly told police during questioning that they belonged to the group.

Two accused -- Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, 19, from Uttar Pradesh -- were arrested, while the third one -- Shiv Kumar from UP -- is on the run.

Police said efforts are on to trace the mastermind behind the shooting. The attack was pre-planned, the shooters were paid in advance and received their weapons a few days ago, according to the investigation so far.

SALMAN KHAN IN LAWRENCE BISHNOI'S CROSSHAIRS

Salman Khan has faced multiple threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang over the past several years, with the most recent incident occurring in April this year, when two bike-borne men opened fire outside his Mumbai residence.

In June 2022, Khan received a handwritten note from an unidentified person, warning that he would suffer the same fate as singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who was killed in May 2022, allegedly by the Bishnoi gang in Punjab's Mansa district.

Lawrence Bishnoi also addressed these threats in a 2023 interview with a news channel, stating that Salman Khan had disrespected the Bishnoi community by killing a blackbuck, a sacred animal to them.