On Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally reached out to Bollywood icon Salman Khan via phone to offer reassurance amidst escalating concerns, promising heightened security measures following a chilling incident outside the actor's Mumbai residence. Two assailants on motorcycles fired multiple shots in the vicinity of Salman Khan's home, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement agencies, who swiftly launched a search operation while bolstering security around the Galaxy Apartments in Bandra.
With tensions running high in the aftermath of the shooting, Chief Minister Shinde engaged in discussions with the Mumbai Police Commissioner, ultimately deciding to step up security arrangements for Salman Khan's safety.
The alarming incident unfolded at 4:51 am on Sunday when the assailants discharged three rounds of gunfire, followed by four additional shots, before swiftly fleeing the scene. CCTV footage captured the perpetrators speeding towards Salman Khan's residence, heightening concerns about the safety of the actor and his surroundings.
However, opposition figures wasted no time in pointing fingers at the state government, particularly under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, for what they perceive as a deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut raised questions about the whereabouts of the state's Home Minister, attributing the perceived lapse in security to a preoccupation with electoral politics.
Furthermore, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi squarely placed blame on Maharashtra's Home Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, and the incumbent government, denouncing their alleged neglect of governance in favor of political maneuvering.
Sunday's unsettling incident marked a disturbing recurrence, following a threat received by Salman Khan's office via email in March 2023, prompting the Mumbai Police to initiate legal proceedings against gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, along with an accomplice, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldie Brar, notorious for their vendetta against Salman Khan, have previously issued public threats against the actor, prompting heightened vigilance and security measures. Reports suggest that they have even dispatched hired assailants to Mumbai with the intent to harm Salman Khan, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
