NCP leader Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in Mumbai on October 12, 2024. Photo: X/@BabaSiddique via ANI

NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique died in hospital after he was shot dead by three men in Mumbai's Bandra East district on Saturday evening (October 12, 2024), officials said.

Two people were arrested immediately after the incident that took place outside the office of his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique near Colgate ground in Nirmal Nagar, they added.

In a condolence message on X, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar described the attack as extremely unfortunate and condemnable.

“I was shocked to learn that he died in this incident,” Mr Pawar said, adding that he had lost a good friend and colleague.

“We have lost a leader who fought for the minority community and championed secularism,” he said, adding that a thorough investigation into the attack would be conducted.

A crowd gathers outside Lilavati Hospital where NCP supremo Baba Siddique was admitted after he was shot by unidentified gunmen in Mumbai on October 12, 2024. | Photo credit: ANI

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said earlier that Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar had informed him that two suspected shooters had been arrested.

One of them is from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Haryana while a third person fled the spot, the CM told TV channels.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio, arrived at Lilavati Hospital where Mr. Baba Siddique was admitted.

Mr. Baba Siddique, a three-time former MLA, recently joined the NCP after quitting the Congress.

Maharashtra NCP (SP) chief Jayant Patil and other political leaders also expressed their condolences on the death of Mr Siddique.

“The news of the death of my old colleague Baba Siddiqui is very shocking. Baba Siddiqui and I also worked together in the cabinet. A moving tribute to him,” Mr Patil tweeted.