Mumbai: The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has not only admitted to killing Baba Siddique, but it has also stated that it will kill anyone who supports Salman Khan.
Salman Khan with Baba Siddique (file photo)
Following the death of Mr. Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and three-time MLA, on Saturday night in Bandra East, close to his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office, rumors of a Bishnoi gang connection to the audacious murder started to circulate. This was verified on Sunday following a Facebook post written by Shubuu Lonkar, who is thought to be an associate of the Bishnoi gang claiming responsibility.
While Lonkar is in jail, police said the post was made by his brother Pravin Lonkar, who was arrested on Sunday.
In the post, Lonkar stated that , connected to Dawood Ibrahim, India’s most wanted terrorist, and because Anuj Thapan, one of the suspects who had been arrested in the shooting outside Mr. Khan’s residence, had died while in police custody.
On May 1, Thapan was discovered dead inside the Mumbai Crime Branch lock-up. His relatives claimed he was mistreated while in jail, despite the police’s claim that he committed suicide.
Lonkar stated in Hindi on the Facebook post, “We do not have any enmity with anyone but whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang, keep your accounts in order (‘hisab-kitaab kar lena’).” According to police, they are confirming the post’s legitimacy.
According to police sources, since last year, the Bishnoi gang has attacked at least two celebrities because they are thought to be close to Salman Khan. On Saturday, Mr. Khan went to the hospital where Siddique was hospitalized and on Sunday he also went to his home.
The Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for firing bullets at Punjabi musician Gippy Grewal’s Canada home in November 2023, citing Grewal’s admiration of Mr. Khan and treating him “like a brother”.
According to Mr. Grewal, he had only met the actor twice.
Shots were fired near the home of another Punjabi musician, AP Dhillon, in Vancouver during September of this year. The firing occurred following the release of Dhillon’s music video “Old Money,” which featured Salman Khan.
Why Bishnoi gang is after Salman Khan?
The Bishnoi gang has stated that it wants to kill Salman Khan for his alleged involvement in shooting blackbucks at Bawad in Mathania near Jodhpur in September 1998, during the shooting of “Hum Saath Saath Hain.”
The Bishnoi people, who considers the blackbuck sacred, was offended by the purported behavior.
In 2018, Lawrence Bishnoi declared in court, “We will kill Salman Khan in Jodhpur. After we act, everyone will know.”
Increased Security
In the meantime, security has been increased around Salman Khan’s Bandra residence-the Galaxy Apartments, where a firing incident occurred on April 14. Following that, Mr. Khan informed the police that he believed the Bishnoi gang was behind the shooting, planning to kill him and his family.
Malabar Hill in South Mumbai, home to the residences of politicians Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, as well as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has also been cordoned off with heavy security.
Siddique had joined Mr. Pawar’s party earlier this year after serving in the Congress for 48 years.