Indian politician Baba Siddique shot dead in Mumbai
An Indian politician has been shot dead in Mumbai, the country’s commercial capital.
Gunmen targeted 66-year-old Baba Siddique near his son’s office, who is also a politician, according to local media reports.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder.
Siddique, a former local minister, was a prominent figure in Maharashtra state politics, which is set to hold legislative elections next month.
In February, he switched allegiance from Congress, India’s main opposition party, to the regional National Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the ruling BJP coalition.
Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, who is from the same party as Siddique, expressed shock at what he called a “cowardly attack.”
Siddique was well-known for hosting lavish parties and maintaining close relationships with Bollywood celebrities.
The shooting occurred despite heightened security due to a major Hindu festival taking place in the city.
Opposition parties have criticized the government, accusing it of a significant security failure. The state government has pledged a thorough investigation into the incident.
Though two suspects have been taken into custody, the motive is not clear. Police are searching for a third suspect.
Some Indian media report the suspects have said they were from a gang run by notorious criminal Lawrence Bishnoi.
Bishnoi is currently serving a jail sentence for his involvement in several high-profile murder cases, including the killing of the Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022.
The shooting came weeks after Siddique’s security detail was upgraded following death threats.
