Baba Siddique Murder: History Sheeters Provided Logistical Support To Shooters, Weapons Were Sourced From North India - New Details Emerge

Mumbai: The weapon used in the killing of ex-Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was supplied to shooters in mid-September, Times Now has learnt. The weapons were sourced from North India and supplied to the shooters by their handlers who are history sheeters with cases of murder and illegal arms possession against them, officials said.These handlers, identified as Nitin Saprey and Ram Kanojiya, also provided financial and logistical support to the shooters, they added. The police officials, however, said that the accused link to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang has not been established yet.Siddique was shot at and grievously injured on October 12 near his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Mumbai's Bandra area. The Congress-turned-NCP leader was rushed to nearby Lilavati Hospital but died during treatment.Five Held After Raids In Panvel, Raigad; Arrests Rise To NineSo far, the Mumbai police have arrested nine people - five were arrested today - in connection with the sensational case.The arrests were made today following specific information on the location of the accused in Panvel and Karjat in neighbouring Raigad district.ALSO READ: "The total number of arrests in the case now stands at nine. Further probe is underway," a police official said.The four persons arrested earlier include two alleged shooters who were overpowered by police and passersby at the spot itself.10 Failed Attempts, YouTube Tutorials, Rs 60,000 Loan: How Murder Was PlannedThe investigation by the police has revealed details of the meticulous planning that went into executing the crime. This involved taking firearm lessons watching YouTube videos, recce of Baba Siddique's house on a second-hand bike and the careful orchestration of getaway plans, Times Now has learnt.According to the police, the shooters took YouTube tutorials to operate guns. They learned how to load and unload the weapon by watching YouTube videos for nearly four weeks, according to officials. In the weeks leading up to the murder, they rented a house in the Kurla area of Mumbai, where they performed "dry practice" (shooting without bullets) for want of open space, he said.The accused shooters had planned to carry out the attack using a motorbike but dropped the plan after they met with an accident. After this, the three perpetrators decided to travel by auto-rickshaw to the site of the crime.Days before the hit, they bought a second-hand bike with which they did recee of Baba Siddique's house and office. According to the police, they closely followed Baba Siddique's for the past 25-30 days before the killing.