The murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique has taken a dramatic turn with a viral social media post claiming responsibility from a member of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The post, which went viral on Sunday, alleges that the murder was a result of a complex web of rivalries involving Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and the Bishnoi gang’s alleged vendetta over the 1998 blackbuck poaching case.
The post, allegedly made on Facebook by an account named “Shubuu Lonkar Maharashtra,” directly addressed Salman Khan, claiming that the actor’s actions had led to the death of their “brother,” referencing Anuj Thapan, who had fired outside Salman Khan’s house and died in police custody in May. The post further threatened anyone who aids Salman Khan or Dawood Ibrahim, indicating a deep-seated animosity between the Bishnoi gang and these figures.
The post also accused Baba Siddique, a prominent Muslim leader known for his close connections to Bollywood, of having links to Dawood Ibrahim, suggesting that his assassination was an attempt to sever these ties. The Mumbai Police, who are currently investigating the murder, have arrested two suspects linked to the Bishnoi gang, Gurmail Singh from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh. The search for a third suspect is ongoing.
This incident has once again brought to the forefront the dangerous influence of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been accused of carrying out multiple killings and other crimes. The gang’s leader, Lawrence Bishnoi, is currently incarcerated in a Gujarat jail, but that hasn’t stopped him from allegedly orchestrating criminal activities, including the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
The Bishnoi gang’s notoriety is further amplified by its history of targeting Salman Khan, whose involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case has fuelled the gang’s alleged vendetta against him. The gang claims that Khan’s actions disrespected their community by killing a blackbuck, a sacred animal in their culture. This ongoing rivalry has resulted in numerous threats and incidents, including the firing outside Khan’s residence in April this year.
The viral social media post claiming responsibility for Baba Siddique’s murder raises serious questions about the Bishnoi gang’s reach and its potential involvement in other crimes. The Mumbai Police are now faced with the challenging task of verifying the authenticity of the post and investigating the gang’s role in the murder. This case is likely to have significant implications for the ongoing battle against organized crime in India and raises concerns about the potential for further violence and instability.
