New Delhi, October 15
The Mumbai Police have intensified the security of Bollywood actor Salman Khan following the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique.
The police stated that Y-plus security has been provided for the actor and a police escort vehicle now travels alongside Salman Khan's vehicle, and a constable trained to use all weapons accompanies him.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for Baba Siddique's murder in a Facebook post. The gang claimed that it targeted Siddique because of his close ties to Salman Khan and alleged links to underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim. The post also mentioned Anuj Thapan, an accused in the firing incident outside Khan's home, who later died by suicide in police custody.
In April shots were fired at the Bandra residence of Salman Khan leading to the arrests of gang members of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who had given a contract of Rs. 25 lakhs to eliminate the actor.
Following Siddique's murder, Bishnoi again claimed the responsibility citing close ties with the actor as one of the motives. Salman Khan has faced multiple threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang over the past several years.
Security has also been beefed up at Salman Khan's farmhouse in Maharashtra's Panvel. Additional security personnel have been deployed inside and outside the farm house, officials noted.
The Navi Mumbai Police have out up check points in many places so that vehicles moving around the farmhouse can be checked. There is only one road that leads to the farmhouse, and it passes through a village.
In June this year, the Navi Mumbai Police had busted a gang that had planned to kill Khan near the farmhouse. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang had planned to kill Khan near his farmhouse by stopping his car and shooting him with AK-47 rifles.
Salman Khan is hosting the 18th season of reality TV show Bigg Boss. When Salman Khan shoots for the upcoming Weekend Ka Vaar episode, his team will be present, tightening security around him, sources told India Today TV.
Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his office on Mumbai on Saturday, October 12. Two shooters, along with a co-conspirator, were arrested the next day.
