LUCKNOW/MUMBAI: In a significant development in the high-profile murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Ziauddin Baba Siddique, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in a joint operation with Mumbai crime branch police arrested the alleged main shooter, Shiv Kumar, alias Shiva, and four of his accomplices from Bahraich on Sunday. It was Shiva who is accused of firing six bullets from a Turkish pistol, three of which hit Siddique, an associate of actor Salman Khan. The total number of arrested suspects in the case now stands at 23.
Deputy SP, STF, Pramesh Shukla said Shiv Kumar had been in constant communication with his handlers while in hiding. During interrogation, Shiv Kumar is said to have admitted to his involvement in the murder.
He disclosed that he and Dharmaraj Kashyap, both hailing from the same village, had worked together in the scrap business in Pune. It was during this time that they met Shubham Lonkar, who was connected to Bishnoi’s network, said Shukla. “Through Snapchat, Shiv Kumar was put in touch with Anmol Bishnoi , Lawrence’s brother who ordered the murder of Baba Siddique. The promise was lucrative: Rs 10 lakh for the job, with further financial support afterwards. To carry out the attack, Shiv Kumar and his accomplices were provided with firearms, cartridges, SIM cards, and mobile phones by Shubham Lonkar and Mohammad Yaseen Akhtar,” said Shukla.
According to the STF, Shiv Kumar and the other shooters tracked Baba Siddique’s movements in Mumbai for several days. They chose the night of October 12 for the execution, knowing that Dussehra festival celebrations would be underway, increasing their chances of making a getaway. However, despite the chaos, two of the shooters, Dharmaraj Kashyap and Gurmail Singh, were caught at the scene; Shiv Kumar managed to escape.
After fleeing the scene, Shiv Kumar is believed to have discarded his phone and made his way to Pune, then to Jhansi and Lucknow, before finally reaching Bahraich. Throughout his journey, he continued to communicate with his handlers, including Anurag Kashyap (who is the brother of the other arrested shooter Dharmaraj Kashyap) and others, who arranged for his hideout in Bahraich and planned his eventual escape to Nepal, said police. When Mumbai crime branch subsequently received inputs on Shiva's whereabouts, they shared the information with the UP STP and sought help to nab him.
A day after the murder, Lonkar, a Pune resident, who is suspected to be linked with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi , had posted a message on a social media platform claiming responsibility for the attack. Hours after posting the message, it was deleted. While his brother, Pravin, has been arrested for his role in the conspiracy, Lonkar is still at large. Jalandhar resident, Zeeshan Akhtar, an alleged key conspirator, is also wanted.
The five arrested now include Shiva and his alleged accomplices including Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava and Akhileshendra Pratap Singh. They are all residents of Gandara village of Bahraich’s Kaiserganj. They are being brought to Mumbai.
Deputy SP, STF, Pramesh Shukla said Shiv Kumar had been in constant communication with his handlers while in hiding. During interrogation, Shiv Kumar is said to have admitted to his involvement in the murder.
He disclosed that he and Dharmaraj Kashyap, both hailing from the same village, had worked together in the scrap business in Pune. It was during this time that they met Shubham Lonkar, who was connected to Bishnoi’s network, said Shukla. “Through Snapchat, Shiv Kumar was put in touch with Anmol Bishnoi , Lawrence’s brother who ordered the murder of Baba Siddique. The promise was lucrative: Rs 10 lakh for the job, with further financial support afterwards. To carry out the attack, Shiv Kumar and his accomplices were provided with firearms, cartridges, SIM cards, and mobile phones by Shubham Lonkar and Mohammad Yaseen Akhtar,” said Shukla.
According to the STF, Shiv Kumar and the other shooters tracked Baba Siddique’s movements in Mumbai for several days. They chose the night of October 12 for the execution, knowing that Dussehra festival celebrations would be underway, increasing their chances of making a getaway. However, despite the chaos, two of the shooters, Dharmaraj Kashyap and Gurmail Singh, were caught at the scene; Shiv Kumar managed to escape.
After fleeing the scene, Shiv Kumar is believed to have discarded his phone and made his way to Pune, then to Jhansi and Lucknow, before finally reaching Bahraich. Throughout his journey, he continued to communicate with his handlers, including Anurag Kashyap (who is the brother of the other arrested shooter Dharmaraj Kashyap) and others, who arranged for his hideout in Bahraich and planned his eventual escape to Nepal, said police. When Mumbai crime branch subsequently received inputs on Shiva's whereabouts, they shared the information with the UP STP and sought help to nab him.
A day after the murder, Lonkar, a Pune resident, who is suspected to be linked with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi , had posted a message on a social media platform claiming responsibility for the attack. Hours after posting the message, it was deleted. While his brother, Pravin, has been arrested for his role in the conspiracy, Lonkar is still at large. Jalandhar resident, Zeeshan Akhtar, an alleged key conspirator, is also wanted.
The five arrested now include Shiva and his alleged accomplices including Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava and Akhileshendra Pratap Singh. They are all residents of Gandara village of Bahraich’s Kaiserganj. They are being brought to Mumbai.
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