The recent murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Ziauddin Siddique in Mumbai has taken a shocking turn with the identification of two assailants from the same village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district. The two accused, Dharam Raj Kashyap and Gurmail Baljeet Singh, have been arrested in connection with the case, while another suspect, Shiv Kumar Gautam alias Shiva, is currently on the run.
According to Bahraich superintendent of police Vrinda Shukla, Dharam Raj Kashyap and Shiv Kumar Gautam are residents of Gandara village under Kaiserganj police station limits. Despite no prior criminal records, the investigation agencies are closely monitoring their family members for any leads on Shiva’s whereabouts.
Shiv Kumar’s family revealed that he had been working in Pune for the past few years, while Dharam Raj and Shiv Kumar were childhood friends and neighbors. Shiv Kumar had taken Dharam Raj with him to Pune for work two months ago, cutting off contact with their families since then. Shiv Kumar’s mother mentioned that he left the village after the Holi festival in March and had no history of disputes.
The accused, coming from impoverished backgrounds, had received houses under the PM Awas Yojana and were not involved in any criminal activities prior to this incident, as confirmed by village head representative Hasnain Kamaal and Zaibun Nisan’s son. In light of Shiva’s potential escape to Nepal, security has been heightened along the porous India-Nepal border to prevent any attempts to evade arrest.
The collaboration between the investigating agencies and Bahraich police highlights the importance of community involvement in solving such cases. It is crucial for residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of everyone in the vicinity. Such incidents serve as a reminder of the need for strong community bonds and communication to prevent crime and protect the well-being of all individuals.
