'Didn't want this war but ... ': Cops probe social media post claiming Lawrence Bishnoi gang role in Baba Siddique murder

NEW DELHI: A social media post, claiming to be from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, took responsibility for the murder of Maharashtra MLA Baba Siddique, who was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Bandra, Mumbai on Saturday night. The Mumbai police are verifying its authenticity.
Taking responsibility on social media, an account on Facebook by the name of Shubuu Lonkar, wrote, "Salman Khan, we did not want this war, but you harmed our brother. Baba Siddique’s chapter has closed today, or he was once under the MCOCA Act with Dawood. The reason for his death is Anuj Thapan and Dawood, who were to be linked with Bollywood, politics, and property dealings. We have no enmity with anyone, but whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang will have to settle their accounts."
Follow for more live updates
The post also quoted poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar before claiming responsibility for the murder. The post started with 'Om, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat' an then quoted Dinkar's Rashmirathi, "Jeewan ka mulya samajhta hu, dhan ko mai dhool samajhta hu! Kya wahi satkarm tha jo nibhaya, nibhaya mitrata ka dharm tha jo."

Mumbai police are verifying the social media post about Bishnoi gang taking the responsibility of the Baba Siddique's murder. "We have seen the viral social media post. Verifying authenticity and context,'' said a senior police officer.
Mumbai Police Crime Branch later took Pravin Lonkar into custody on Monday in Pune, in relation to the murder case of NCP leader Baba Siddique. Pravin is the sibling of Shubuu Lonkar, who claimed on social media that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was responsible for the killing.
Read also: 'He was street-smart and dildar': Neighbours recall fond memories of 'Bandra boy' Baba Siddiqui
The incident occurred around 9.30 pm when three attackers opened fire, hitting the NCP leader Siddique in the chest. Police have arrested two of the shooters, Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana, and Dharamraj Kashyap, 19, from Uttar Pradesh. The third suspect, Shiv Kumar from UP, is still at large.
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde announced that the former Congress leader Siddique would be cremated with full state honours. The chief minister's office stated, "Siddique will be given full state honours as he served as minister in the Maharashtra government during 2004-2008 and also as chairman of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA)."
The Mumbai crime branch has registered a case at Nirmal Nagar Police Station in connection with the murder. The case is filed under crime registration no. 589/2024, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act and Maharashtra Police Act.