India
Baba Siddique murder case: Ossification test confirms suspect Dharmaraj Kashyap is not a minor – Times of India
The ossification test, a medical procedure used to estimate a person’s age by analyzing the degree of bone fusion, was ordered by the Esplanade Court on Sunday following discrepancies over Kashyap’s age. Although Kashyap claimed to be 17 years old, prosecutors pointed out that his Aadhaar card indicated he was 19.
After the test results were presented in court, Kashyap was remanded in police custody until October 21. A police spokesperson said: “His lawyer claimed he was a minor. The test was conducted and it was confirmed that he was not a minor. He appeared in court and the court granted police custody until October 21.”
Gurmail Singh, another accused in the murder case, has also been remanded in the custody of the Mumbai Crime Branch till October 21. Meanwhile, police are still searching for a third gunman, identified as Shivakumar, who is absconding.
Mumbai Police on Sunday arrested another accused, Pravin Lonkar, 28, in Pune. Lonkar is the brother of Shubham Lonkar, who is also involved in the conspiracy. The Lonkar brothers are believed to have roped in Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam in the plot to kill Siddique.
Baba Siddique was shot outside his office in Nirmal Nagar, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday evening. His last rites were performed with full state honors in Mumbai at Bada Qabrastan on Sunday.
Speaking about the law and order situation after Siddique’s murder, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “Yesterday’s incident is unfortunate and sad. Mumbai Police has arrested two persons – one from UP and the other of Haryana. The third suspect is absconding… He will be arrested soon. They will not be spared, no matter who they are, be it the Bishnoi gang or an underworld gang.
Shinde assured the public that the safety of those receiving threats would be ensured, stressing that it is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order.
