Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, aged 66, was tragically shot dead in Mumbai’s Bandra East on Saturday, sending shockwaves across the political spectrum just weeks before the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Three assailants were involved in the attack, two of whom have been apprehended, while the third remains at large.
The attack occurred outside the MLA office of Siddique’s son, Zeeshan, near Colgate Ground, Nirmal Nagar. Despite being rushed to Lilavati Hospital, Siddique succumbed to his injuries. Mumbai Police, in their latest update, confirmed the arrests of two suspects—one from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Haryana—while efforts continue to track down the third suspect.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his condolences, assuring the public that a thorough investigation is underway. Shinde also noted that Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar had briefed him on the status of the case, vowing that all responsible parties would be brought to justice.
The murder has sparked political outrage, with leaders from the opposition heavily criticizing the state’s law enforcement. NCP chief Ajit Pawar expressed deep shock over the loss of Siddique, whom he referred to as a champion of secularism and a voice for the minority community. Senior NCP leader Sharad Pawar accused the ruling party of mishandling the state’s security, calling for the resignation of Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders also voiced their concerns, questioning how a prominent leader with Y-category security could be killed so brazenly. As the political climate intensifies ahead of the elections, the incident raises serious questions about the state of law and order in Maharashtra.
