The two suspects arrested in the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique have claimed they belong to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said sources.

However, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang hasn’t taken responsibility for the murder yet.

During interrogation by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, the two men also claimed they had been doing recce of that area for nearly a month, added the police sources.

Baba Siddique, a prominent politician from the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party and a former three-MLA from Bandra East, was shot dead in Bandra last night.

The shooting that coincided with Dussehra festivities was carried out by three men, of which two were arrested while the third remains on the run. The cops were probing the case from two different angles, one involving the Bishnoi gang and another related to a slum rehabilitation case.

The involvement of the Bishnoi gang was suspected due to Mr Siddique’s proximity to Bollywood star Salman Khan, who had received threats from Lawrence Bishnoi. Mr Siddique, however, did not report any threat from the Bishnoi gang in the past, according to the police.

But sources close to Mr Siddique claim that 15 days ago he received a death threat which is why he was placed under ‘Y’ category security.

New Zealand’s win over Sri Lanka narrows down the semi-finals prospects in Group A. With two matches left, India faces defending champions Australia, and Pakistan takes on New Zealand. India’s higher net run rate offers an edge, but the outcomes of these matches will determine the final two teams advancing alongside Australia.

The body of Siddique (66), who was shot dead by three assailants in Mumbai on Saturday, was shifted from Lilavati Hospital to Cooper Hospital around 6 am