Mumbai Police announced on Tuesday that the shooters responsible for the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique conducted at least five practice sessions prior to the attack.
The shooters honed their skills in a forest along the Karjat-Khopoli road. “The shooters practiced shooting in a forest located on Karjat-Khopoli Road before targeting Baba Siddique. The accused practiced by shooting at a tree in the forest near Palasadari village near a waterfall on Karjat-Khopoli Road,” stated Mumbai Police.
The police revealed that the accused fired between five to ten rounds at a tree during these practice sessions, which took place in September of this year. In the wake of the incident, the Mumbai Police suspended police security guard Shyam Sonawane, who was present with Baba Siddique when the attack occurred.
According to the police, constable Sonawane “did not take any action” against the assailants who opened fire on Siddique. “An internal investigation is also ongoing,” they added.
Baba Siddique was shot outside his office in Nirmal Nagar, suffering two gunshot wounds to the chest. He was rushed to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries on October 12.
Approximately four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, while three others remain at large. During interrogation, one of the arrested suspects, Ram Kanojia, disclosed that he was the first to receive a contract for killing the NCP leader and initially demanded one crore rupees, according to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Additionally, a photograph of Baba Siddique’s son, Zeeshan Siddique, was discovered on the phone of one of the arrested individuals, shared by their handler via Snapchat, police reported.
