In a latest development in Baba Siddique murder case, Mumbai Crime Branch on Sunday arrested shooter along with four other accused from Nanpara in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich. The accused were arrested in Crime Branch’s joint operation with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). The main accused identified as Shiva Kumar was arrested while he was trying to flee Nepal, stated the UP STF. All the accused have been brought to Mumbai for now.

The operation was conducted by a team comprising 6 officers and 15 personnel. Along with the shooter, Shiva Kumar, four others identified as Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava, and Akhileshendra Pratap Singh were arrested for allegedly assisting in Shiva Kumar’s escape and sheltering him, as well as helping him in his attempt to flee to Nepal.

What Did UP STF Say?

According to a statement by the Uttar Pradesh STF, the shooters involved in the crime have confessed that the murder was carried out under the orders of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently imprisoned. Reportedly, the shooters also admitted to receiving logistical support from Shubham Lonkar and Mohammad Yaseen Akhtar, who helped coordinate the attack.

The main accused also confessed that he talked to Lawrence Bishnoi’s younger brother Anmol, several times through a social media app.

Shooter Says, ‘They Killed Baba Siddique’

Shiva in his statement to UP STF said, “In exchange for the murder of Baba Siddique, I was told that after the murder you will get ten lakh rupees and you will keep getting something every month. Shubham Lonkar and Yaseen Akhtar gave us weapons, cartridges, SIM and mobile phones for the murder.”

He further stated that after the murder, the three shooters were given new SIM and mobile phones to talk to each other. He admitted to have recced Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai for several days and waited for the right time. “For the last several days, we were doing recce of Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai and on getting the right time on the night of 12 October, we killed Baba Siddique,” Shiva added.

Notably, former Maharashtra Minister and NCP Leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three gunmen in Mumbai’s Bandra area on October 12.

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