NCP leader Baba Siddique shot dead in Mumbai, 2 arrested

Former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot near his office. He succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

In Short

• Assailants used firecrackers as cover to open fire at Baba Siddique
• Shooting occurred near Siddique’s office in Mumbai
• NCP leader, shot in stomach and chest, succumbed to injuries

Baba Siddique, former Maharashtra minister and a leader of Ajit Pawar's NCP, was shot dead by three men in Mumbai on Saturday evening. The 66-year-old politician was shot in the stomach and chest. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he died of his injuries.

Two people have been arrested by the police in connection with the attack.

The incident occurred around 9.30 pm near Ram Mandir, close to the NCP leader's office.

As Siddique was bursting firecrackers on the occasion of Dussehra, three men emerged from a vehicle, their faces covered with handkerchiefs. They opened fire with a 9.9 mm pistol, firing three rounds, one of which struck Siddiqui in the chest, causing him to collapse on the spot.

One of the bullets cracked the windshield of Baba Siddique's vehicle, confirming that multiple shots were fired. Police also recovered three bullet casings from the scene, according to another video that surfaced online.

Two people were later arrested: one is from Uttar Pradesh, and the other is from Haryana.

India Today has obtained an exclusive image of one of the two accused who was arrested at the scene. A third suspect is on the run, and efforts are underway to catch him.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde promised strict action against those responsible for the attack on the NCP leader. "Two accused have been arrested, and one suspect is still at large. No one can take law and order into their own hands," Shinde said.

The Chief Minister said that he had directed Mumbai Police to ensure swift action.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar cancelled all his programmes scheduled for Sunday and is expected to return to Mumbai soon. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Lilavati Hospital, where Siddique was taken after being shot.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar condoled Siddique's death. Pawar said he lost a "good colleague and a good friend".

"The incident will be thoroughly investigated, and strict action will be taken against the attackers. The mastermind behind the attack will also be traced. With the demise of Baba Siddique, we have lost a good leader who fought for the minority brothers and strived for pan-religious harmony," he said.

Opposition slams Mahayuti government following Siddique's killing

Meanwhile, the opposition leaders have raised questions over the law and order situation in Maharashtra after a former minister was openly shot at.

Congress leader KC Venugopal called Siddique’s death a "massive loss" to the people of Maharashtra. He then went on to criticise the Eknath Shinde-led government over the shooting, claiming that the incident showed that “criminals no longer fear the law in Maharashtra”.

"This incident is a serious indictment of the crumbling law and order situation in Maharashtra. Siddique ji had on multiple occasions intimated the authorities about the threats to his life and he suffered despite being under Y plus security. That this shooting took place on the road, in the middle of bustling markets, shows that criminals no longer fear the law in Maharashtra," Venugopal said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed a similar sentiment. She asked how the government would keep the common people safe when it couldn't protect a political leader who had a 'Y' category security cover.

"The question that is being raised is where is the law and order in Mumbai today? Today, if a protected person is murdered in this manner, then the question arises of how safe the common people will feel," she said.

Who was Baba Siddique, 66-year-old NCP leader shot dead in Mumbai?

Born on September 13, 1958 in Patna, Baba Siddique grew up in Mumbai and joined the Congress as a teenager in 1977. He quickly rose through the ranks due to his strong connections with the local electorate.

Baba Siddique went on to become the General Secretary of the Bandra Taluka of the Bandra Youth Congress in 1980 and was elected its chief within the next two years. In 1988, he became the president of the Mumbai Youth Congress and was elected Municipal Councillor in 1992.

In 1999, Siddique won his first election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Bandra West constituency. His win was seen as a result of his strong grassroots support and ability to mobilise voters from diverse communities. He went on to represent Bandra West for three consecutive terms, holding the seat until 2014.