‘Death should not go in vain, it needs justice’: Zeeshan Siddique reacts to Baba Siddique’s father’s murder

Congress MP Zeeshan Siddique on Thursday reacted for the first time on the killing of his father Baba Siddique, saying that he sacrificed his life while protecting the homes of poor innocent people.

Zeeshan further said that Baba’s death should not be politicized and it would not be in vain.

“My father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of innocent poor people. Today, my family is broken, but his death should not be politicized and will definitely not be in vain. I NEED JUSTICE, MY FAMILY NEEDS JUSTICE!” said in a post on X.

Baba Siddique, former Maharashtra minister and three-time MP, was shot by three men outside his MP son’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra on Saturday evening. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead.

Mumbai police have so far arrested four people, including Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), both alleged shooters; Harishkumar Balakram Nisad (23) and “co-conspirator” Pravin Lonkar, who hails from Pune. Nisad and Kashyap belong to the same village as wanted accused Shivkumar Gautam.

Gautam was hired as the “lead shooter” as he knew how to use the guns, the official said citing the interrogation of Gurmail Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap. The four arrested have been remanded in prison until October 21.

A police official had said only one constable was accompanying the slain NCP leader when he was shot dead, who took cover from the Dussehra fireworks to open fire. The uncategorized security, under which Siddique was given three officers, is provided based on the threat perception of the individual, the official added.

According to police sources, Baba Siddique and Zeeshan Siddique were both on the shooters’ radar.

In September, Zeeshan had written to the state intelligence unit seeking enhanced security citing a threat to life. According to sources, though Zeeshan had police protection as he was an MP, his security was beefed up after he raised his concerns.

While the NCP leader’s shooters claimed to have links with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, police are probing multiple angles, including a possible contract killing, business rivalry and threats related to a slum rehabilitation project.