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The recent arrest of Shiv Kumar Gautam alias Shiva, the main accused in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation. Shiva, who had fired three rounds at Siddique on October 12, was apprehended in a joint operation by the Mumbai crime branch and the UP Special Task Force (STF). This arrest follows the earlier detention of 20 individuals related to the case, raising the total count to 21.
Shiva's capture was a result of 28 days of intensive tracking by a dedicated team of four officers. Despite residing in a remote location in Bahraich, his attempt to flee to Nepal was thwarted by the combined efforts of the Mumbai and UP law enforcement agencies. The police revealed that Shiva had maintained communication with alleged gangster Anmol Bishnoi, brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, further implicating him in a wider criminal network.
The arrest of Shiva was not a solitary event; two of his associates, Anurag Kashyap and Gyan Prakash Tripathi, were apprehended alongside him. Kashyap, brother of Dharmaraj Kashyap (previously arrested in the case), and Tripathi were implicated in the murder due to their financial links. Tripathi's transfer of Rs 1.5 lakhs to other accused individuals solidified his involvement in the crime.
Shiva's cunning efforts to evade capture highlight the complexities of the investigation. Following the shooting, he managed to flee the scene amidst a Durga Puja procession, later discarding his mobile phone to hinder police tracking. His subsequent movements, which involved using other people's mobile phones to communicate and maintain a low profile, demonstrated his calculated and determined approach to escape.
The police are actively pursuing two additional suspects, Zeeshan Akhtar and Shubham Lonkar, believed to be the handlers of the shooters. With the continued efforts to apprehend these individuals, the investigation aims to expose the full extent of the criminal conspiracy behind Baba Siddique's murder and bring all those responsible to justice.
Source: Main accused in Baba Siddique murder case arrested in Uttar Pradesh, was in touch with Anmol Bishnoi