The investigation into the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique has revealed that the assailants learned to operate firearms through YouTube tutorials and celebratory firings at weddings. Shivkumar Gautam, an accused still on the run, was recruited for his firearm skills by two suspects, Gurmail Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap. They trained in a rented house in Kurla, Mumbai, using non-live ammunition, relying on online videos to master loading and handling techniques.

Another key suspect, Shubham Lonkar, was under police watch from June until his disappearance on September 24. Lonkar, who had been arrested earlier in Akola under the Arms Act, had connections with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and stayed in touch with Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol, just before going off the radar. He also advised his associates to use Snapchat and Instagram for communication, taking advantage of features like auto-deleting messages.

Siddique was shot by three assailants near his son’s office in Bandra East and later succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital. The suspects reportedly targeted Siddique due to his close ties with actor Salman Khan, who has been on the radar of the Bishnoi gang.

The Bishnoi gang’s involvement has drawn international attention, especially after Canada linked the group to the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Meanwhile, security around Khan’s residence has been tightened, with the actor advised to limit visitors amid escalating threats.