Baba Siddique, former Maharashtra minister, was assassinated in Bandra despite being under heavy security. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility, further threatening anyone who supports Salman Khan. The gang has previously targeted individuals linked to Khan, citing his blackbuck poaching case as their motive. Security has been tightened around Salman Khan and prominent political figures.
Former Maharashtra minister and three-time MLA Baba Siddique was shot dead in Bandra, despite being under Y-category security, in a meticulously planned assassination. The murder has sent shockwaves through the state, and it has been confirmed that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is behind the attack. The gang, notorious for its involvement in several high-profile crimes, issued a stark warning: “Whoever helps Salman Khan will be our next target.”
Baba Siddique’s killing occurred near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East, on Saturday night. The murder was first suspected to have links to the Bishnoi gang, a theory that was confirmed on Sunday through a Facebook post made by Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar, an associate of the gang. Lonkar is currently in jail, but police believe the post was published by his brother, Pravin Lonkar, who has since been arrested.
The chilling Facebook post claimed Siddique was killed for his alleged connections to India’s most-wanted terrorist, Dawood Ibrahim, his closeness to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, and in retaliation for the death of Anuj Thapan. Thapan, a suspect in a shooting outside Khan’s house, was found dead on May 1 in police custody. Though authorities ruled it a suicide, Thapan’s family insists he was tortured.
The post, written in Hindi, warned, “We do not have any enmity with anyone but whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang, keep your accounts in order (‘hisab-kitaab kar lena’).” The police are currently working to verify the post’s authenticity, but the threat has intensified concerns for those linked to Salman Khan.
Salman Khan and the Bishnoi Gang’s History
The Bishnoi gang’s animosity towards Salman Khan stems from a long-standing controversy. The gang claims their mission is to avenge the blackbuck poaching incident in 1998, for which Khan was accused. The blackbuck is sacred to the Bishnoi community, and the actor’s alleged involvement in the hunting of the animal during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain near Jodhpur deeply angered the Bishnois.
In 2018, during a court appearance, Lawrence Bishnoi declared, “We will kill Salman Khan in Jodhpur. Everyone will know once we take action. I have not done anything as of now, they are accusing me of crimes for no reason.” Since then, the gang has targeted Khan multiple times.
The gang rose to national infamy after claiming responsibility for the murder of popular singer Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022. Their hatred for Salman Khan, however, continues to be a focal point of their criminal activities. In recent months, they have attacked individuals believed to have close ties to the actor, both in India and abroad.
Recent Incidents and Rising Threats
Baba Siddique, known for hosting extravagant parties, played a key role in ending a five-year cold war between Bollywood superstars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. His ‘iftar’ party in 2013 marked the moment the two actors buried the hatchet.
In light of Siddique’s assassination, Salman Khan’s security has been tightened. The actor has faced threats from the Bishnoi gang previously, most notably in April 2023, when shots were fired near his residence, Galaxy Apartments in Bandra. Following the incident, Khan expressed his belief that the attack was orchestrated by the Bishnoi gang with the intent to harm him and his family.
Two Punjabi singers have also fallen victim to the gang’s vendetta against Khan. In November 2023, the house of singer Gippy Grewal in Vancouver, Canada, was fired upon. The gang claimed responsibility, stating it was due to Grewal’s praise for Salman Khan. Grewal, however, denied any close connection to the actor, mentioning they had only met twice.
Similarly, in September, shots were fired near the residence of Punjabi singer AP Dhillon, also in Vancouver. The attack came shortly after the release of Dhillon’s music video ‘Old Money,’ which featured Khan. Rohit Godara, a known Bishnoi gang member, claimed the shooting was their work.
Heightened Security Measures
In the wake of Siddique’s assassination and escalating threats against Salman Khan, security has been beefed up around the actor’s residence. Authorities are taking no chances, as tensions between Khan and the Bishnoi gang remain high.
Additional security measures have also been implemented in other parts of Mumbai. In the Malabar Hill area, where the residences of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are located, police have increased patrolling and blocked certain entry points. Siddique, a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics, had recently switched allegiances to Pawar’s party after being with Congress for nearly five decades.
As investigations continue, the police are closely monitoring any further moves by the Bishnoi gang, whose threats have placed Salman Khan and his associates in a precarious position.
The assassination of Baba Siddique has not only sent shockwaves through Maharashtra but has also reignited the long-standing feud between Salman Khan and the Bishnoi gang. With security heightened and the gang’s threats continuing, the coming months could prove to be critical in this ongoing saga. Authorities will need to stay vigilant to protect the lives of those at risk.
