Baba Siddique Murder: Look Out Circular Issued For Shubham Lonkar Who Hired Shooters

Pune: As investigation continues into the high-profile killing of senior NCP leader Baba Siddique on October 12, The Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a look out circular for Shubham Lonkar who is believed to be the key conspirator of the plot to kill the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction leader. The Crime Branch has launched a search at the India-Nepal border areas to nab Shubham Lonkar.

The Crime branch suspects that Shubham could have used Nepal route to flee from India. It is learnt that he had left his home in Pune 2 months before the shootout.

Baba Siddique died on Saturday after he was shot multiple times in Mumbai's Bandra. A former MLA, Siddique was rushed to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. According to police sources, three assailants fired shots at Baba Siddiqui, leaving him critically injured. The firing took place outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddiqui's office near Colgate ground in Nirmal Nagar. 

So far police have made four arrests in the case, including Shubham's brother Pravin Lonkar who has been sent to police custody till October 21. 

Shubham Lonkar part of Lawrence Bishnoi gang

Notably, his Facebook profile was used by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to claim responsibility for Siddique’s murder. Lonkar’s brother, Pravin Lonkar, has already been arrested by the Crime Branch for allegedly providing financial support.

The Facebook post which had gone viral, read that the murder was due to Siddique’s links with Bollywood actor Salman Khan and underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim and Anuj Thapan.

The post began with "Om, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat" slogans, followed by, "I understand the essence of life, and consider wealth and the body as dust. I did a good deed and honoured the duty of friendship."

The post further read, "Salman Khan, we did not want this war but you hurt our brother."

The post shared on FB by a user named 'Shubuu Lonkar Maharashtra ' further claimed that once Siddique connived with Dawood under MCOCA ( Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act). The viral post also mentioned the motive behind the killing, stating it was to take revenge from Siddique for "linking Dawood and Anuj Thapan with Bollywood, politics, and property dealings."

We have no rivalry with anyone but anyone who supports Salman Khan and Dawood, should be prepared for consequences," the post further read.

The post concluded with a warning, "We will definitely give a reaction if anyone gets our brothers killed. We have never attacked first..."

Meanwhile, the alleged shooters were identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh (23) from Haryana and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19) from Uttar Pradesh. Pravin Lonkar (29) was arrested from Pune on Sunday.

Interestingly, the three-time MLA and former Maharashtra minister was killed despite having Y category security cover. The shocking assassination of the NCP leader has raised serious concerns about the law and order situation in Maharashtra , where assembly elections are set to take place next month. A prominent Muslim leader from Mumbai, Siddique had represented the Bandra (West) seat in the assembly three times and was known for his close ties with various Bollywood stars.