Is the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique a fallout of the gang war, which Mumbai has been notorious for a long time? Will it trigger a new underworld war that may engulf many people?
Days of Dawood Ibrahim
The ‘Maximum City’ is also known for the maximum crimes for decades and the old-timers still recall the days of Hajji Mastan, Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel, and Chhota Rajan. The latest addition to the list of notorious criminals and mafia operators is the most feared gangster Lawrence who is suspected of heading the gang that attacked the Maharashtra politician.
Gang Threatens Salman Khan
The buzz started after a Facebook user Shubuu Lonkar Maharashtra wrote in a post on the social media platform that he “did not want enmity with Salman Khan, but the actor caused harm to his friend.” He also claimed that “Baba Siddique was once in prison along with Dawood Ibrahim under MCOCA.” Shubuu also said, “he had no enmity with anyone, but those supporting Salman or Dawood should think about them.” Shubbu declared “if anyone of his brothers is killed, he would certainly react.” He ended the post writing “Jai Shri Ram” and added #LawrenceBishnoiGang.
Killing Of Dutta Samant
Trade union leader Dutta Samant, known for the year-long hunger strike in 1982, was killed on January 16, 1997, in Mumbai. He was the leader of more than 300,000 textile workers and due to the wrong policies of the mills and the government, many of the mills were closed down, rendering most of the workers unemployed.
Textile Mills Closed, Lakhs Unemployed
Political analysts believe the closure of textile mills was planned and executed because the land on which each mill was located was worth hundreds of crores of rupees. The mill owners sold the land or developed houses or business centres on the land and made huge money.
‘Shoot Out At Lokhandwala’
However, as the mills were closed and lakhs of workers were made jobless, it created fertile land for criminals and crime syndicates and gangs to flourish. The gang lords clashed among themselves, and Mumbai became infamous for gang war. People may still recall the movie ‘Shoot Out At Lokhandwala’, which was based on encounter between the Mumbai Police and the gangster Maya Dolas in Andheri suburban.
Mumbai Bomb Blasts 1993
However, after the serial Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993, the gangs were divided into communal lines and the gang war escalated. In yet another incident, T Series owner Gulshan Kumar was gunned down in front of a temple in 1997.
Later on, consequent to the implementation of laws like MCOCA, stern police actions and economic reforms that led to the creation of jobs and development, the grip of gangs loosened, many gangsters were killed and the Maximum City heaved a sigh of relief with the open gang- war coming to an end.
Why Is Salman Khan On Radar?
Salman Khan came on the radar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang after he allegedly killed a black buck in Rajasthan in 1998 because blackbucks are revered by the Bishnoi community in the same way as Hindus in general worship cows. Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang openly threatened the Bollywood superstar of killing him.
When Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was killed in May 2022, the Bishnoi gang came to the limelight once again. He allegedly wrote a letter to Salman Khan, the father of the film star threatening him. His name has cropped up again after the killing of the NCP leader.
With the murder of Baba Siddique, the old wounds have opened again. The murder of the NCP leader has raised the question if the era of gang wars has returned.
