GUWAHATI: The shooters involved in the killing of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique learned to handle firearms by watching YouTube videos, as per reports on Wednesday.
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Mumbai police's crime branch, which is investigating the case, discovered that suspected shooter Shivkumar Gautam, now on the run, initially learned to handle weapons reportedly during celebratory firings at weddings in Uttar Pradesh.
Two arrested suspects, Gurmail Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap, revealed that Gautam was reportedly hired for his firearms expertise. The group practised in a rented house in Kurla, training without bullets. Unable to find a suitable location for live practice, they resorted to learning loading and unloading techniques through YouTube videos for nearly a month.
Another alleged conspirator, Shubham Lonkar, had been under police surveillance until September 24 after being questioned in connection with a June shooting incident outside actor Salman Khan’s home. Shubham was reportedly suspected of ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. He was previously arrested in January under the Arms Act in Akola, Maharashtra, where over ten firearms were seized, but was later released on bail.
Shubham had also been in contact with Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol, before disappearing on September 24. Investigations revealed that the group reportedly used social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram for communication, with Shubham suggesting these apps to avoid surveillance due to Snapchat's automatic message deletion feature.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to track down Gautam and gather further details in the case.