 "This Week in Explainers: Baba Siddique’s murder and its link to Lawrence Bishnoi gang and Salman Khan")
It was a solemn week for India. Veteran Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique’s killing shocked the nation. He was shot dead last Saturday by three assailants in Mumbai’s Bandra. The notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the attack.
It was a week of panic for Indian flyers as several flights got hoax bomb threats, causing delays and diversions. It was a nightmare for authorities, airlines and flyers alike.
In other news, the new Lady Justice statue unveiled at the judges’ library in the Supreme Court triggered a controversy. But why? We will explain.
Here’s all this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from India.
1. The high-profile murder of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar camp) leader Baba Siddique stunned India. Siddique was leaving the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Mumbai’s Bandra area on Saturday night when three shooters opened fire. The veteran politician, who sustained two gunshot wounds, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment.
However, he could not be saved. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder of the NCP leader and also reportedly issued a threat that anyone helping Bollywood actor Salman Khan would be in its crosshairs. But why is the infamous gang after the Tiger actor? Read our story to find out.
2. The Bishnoi gang is not only after Salman Khan. As per reports, Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in a jail in Gujarat, revealed his gang’s hit list during an interrogation with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The name of standup comedian and Big Boss 17 winner Munawar Faruqui has come up, along with Zeeshan Siddique and others.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe Bishnoi gang tried to target Faruqui during his visit to Delhi last month. However, the attempt was foiled due to timely action by the intelligence agency and the police. We explain in this report why the crime syndicate is after the comic.
3. It was a turbulent week for flyers and Indian airlines. At least 19 flights – both domestic and international —received hoax bomb threats since Monday. The planes were delayed or diverted, disrupting travel.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation held a high-level meeting to discuss the fake threats. The government is mulling stricter punishments for the miscreants behind these false threats, including putting them on no-fly lists.
Authorities say these bomb hoaxes disrupt daily life, lead to heavy economic losses and are also psychologically damaging for the citizens. But it is not just airlines that have got such threats. Recently, many hospitals, malls, colleges and other institutions were also at the receiving end of this menace. Here’s our explainer on how bomb threats are haunting the country.
4. The death of industrialist Ratan Tata on October 9 was felt across the country. From entrepreneurs to politicians, tributes poured in for the former Tata Group chairman, who passed away at the age of 86 at a Mumbai hospital. His demise also sparked questions about his successor and fortune.
Tata’s half-brother Noel Tata has been revealed as the successor. But what about Ratan Tata’s will? How will his assets be divided? While this may not be known yet, reports have surfaced about the executors of his will. Who are they? Read our report to find out.
5. The new Lady Justice statue at the Supreme Court library has sparked a row. One of the most noticeable changes was the removal of the blindfold. The traditional image of Lady Justice depicts her with a blindfold, robe, and sword.
The blindfold represents equality before the law, implying courts cannot see wealth, status or influence before it. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, who commissioned the new version of the statue, said: “The law is not blind; it sees everyone equally”. But not everyone sees the change this way. We explain the row surrounding the redesigned Lady Justice statue in our story.
💥💥 New Justice Statue In Supreme Court, A 'Law Is Not Blind' Message pic.twitter.com/is9T5yoiny
— CA Bimal Jain (@BimalGST) October 16, 2024
6. How do you place your arm for a blood pressure reading? Researchers at United States’ Johns Hopkins Medicine say that improper arm positioning could impact the accuracy of such readings.
They analysed blood pressure measurements in three different situations: the volunteer’s arms hanging at their side, supported on a desk, and kept on a lap. Here’s our report on what the researchers found and why the study matters.
You are all caught up for this week. If you like the way we explain things, you can bookmark this page.
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