A Photograph at Juhu Beach, How Mumbai Police Tracked Down Siddique’s Attackers
On a quiet Saturday night, Mumbai Police swiftly apprehended two suspects involved in the brazen shooting of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique. As officers delved deeper into the investigation, a key piece of evidence emerged—an innocent-looking photograph found on one of the suspect’s phones. The photograph, taken at Juhu beach, showcased three young men: Gurmail Singh (23), Dharmraj Kashyap (19), and Shivkumar Gautam (24). This photograph would prove invaluable, helping police identify the third suspect who had managed to flee after the attack.
The photograph, discovered on Kashyap’s mobile phone, was the breakthrough the police needed. When questioned, Kashyap admitted that the image was taken during a trip to Juhu beach, a popular tourist destination in Mumbai. The trio had spent nearly a month in the city, blending into the urban landscape while planning their deadly attack.
Their visit to Juhu beach was just one of several trips to tourist hotspots in Mumbai, where they posed as ordinary visitors, giving no indication of the sinister plot they were executing. The photograph, taken by a local beach photographer, was captured by Kashyap on his phone as a memento. Little did they know that this very image would help law enforcement identify and track down the third suspect, Gautam, who had escaped during the initial police action.
A police officer familiar with the case said, “Immediately after the arrest of the two suspects, we searched their phones and found a photograph of three people on Kashyap’s device. When we questioned him, he admitted that the photo was taken at Juhu beach, where they had gone as tourists. The photograph helped us put a face to the third accused, Gautam, who was absconding. It also proved that the three of them had been together.”
The revelation that the group had been in Mumbai for almost a month while carefully planning their attack came as a surprise to those around them. Police later discovered that both Dharmraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam hailed from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh. They had arrived in Mumbai from Pune in the first week of September. Shortly after, Gurmail Singh, a 23-year-old from Kaithal in Haryana, joined them in the city. The trio settled into a nondescript rented room in Kurla West, an area bustling with life but affording them a measure of anonymity.
Their arrival in Mumbai was strategic. Over the course of their stay, the group meticulously planned their assault on Siddique. According to initial police findings, they received the firearm used in the shooting through a courier service at their Kurla residence. During their stay, they would frequently travel by autorickshaw to Siddique’s office and residence, conducting reconnaissance missions to familiarize themselves with the target’s routine. This surveillance went on for nearly a month before the attack was executed on Saturday.
In addition to their recce, the accused were provided with a flex poster featuring a photograph of Baba Siddique. The poster, which had been placed on a hoarding in the city, served as a guide to help them identify Siddique. This detail, discovered during the police investigation, indicated the lengths to which the suspects went in planning their attack. It was not a spontaneous crime but a cold, calculated act that required weeks of preparation.
Interestingly, despite their nefarious plans, the trio maintained a low profile in the neighborhood where they stayed. According to one of the neighbors, Gurmail Singh was the most visible of the three, often seen stepping outside for a cigarette. “I would take my dog for a walk in the morning, and Gurmail would be standing there smoking,” the neighbor said. “He once asked me about the breed of my dog, and we chatted briefly. He spoke in English, and I assumed he was well-educated. I was shocked when I saw his photograph on the news during the coverage of Siddique’s shooting.” The neighbor’s reaction is a stark reminder of how easily the trio managed to blend into their surroundings.
Another neighbor, identified as Moin, shared that the group rarely ventured out of their house. “The lights were always on, 24/7, but I hardly saw them outside. There was only one instance when I knocked on their window to ask them to take care of the garbage that had piled up outside. Kashyap barely opened the window and assured me they would handle it. The only other time they came out was to hang their clothes to dry,” Moin recalled.
The seemingly mundane lives the three led belied the sinister crime they were plotting. For the residents of the area, it was an unsettling realization that the young men they had seen so infrequently were responsible for such a violent act. The calculated manner in which they carried out the crime was chilling.
As the investigation progresses, the police are continuing their search for Shivkumar Gautam, the third accused who remains at large. With his photograph now in circulation, authorities are hopeful they will soon apprehend him and bring him to justice. The incident has shocked the city, and the swift action by law enforcement has been commendable. However, it also serves as a reminder of how individuals with malicious intent can slip into the fabric of society, unnoticed until it is too late.
The trio’s actions in Mumbai, their careful planning, and their ability to stay under the radar for nearly a month demonstrate a high level of criminal sophistication. Yet, it was their small misstep—an innocent photograph taken at a tourist spot—that eventually gave police the crucial lead they needed. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what further revelations will come to light as police continue their pursuit of Gautam.