Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
Bantwal, Jun 23: The Bantwal rural police on Sunday June 22 took six persons into custody in connection with the brutal murder of Naushad (27) by a gang at Maripalla here on Saturday June 21, sources said.
Though the identities of the six have not been divulged, it is said that they are all locals. The police who have formed two teams to investigate the case expressed confidence of cracking the case in the next one or two days.
Naushad
Police investigation has revealed that personal grudge and rivalry had led to the murder. Six person were directly involved in the act, police confirmed.
Naushad was an accused in the murder of ganja peddler Nooruddin that took place on January 5, 2012. Last year, the case was solved and Naushad was acquitted. During preliminary investigation, the police suspected that Naushad was killed as a revenge for Nooruddin's murder. However, it is now suspected that Naushad was killed due to personal rivalry.
It has also come to light that after murdering Naushad, the attackers left their car, said to be an Innova, in Suratkal area and escaped. The police are now trying to trace and seize the car, it is learnt.
The police have also gathered other clues based on Naushad's call records, the sickle found at the crime spot and statement made by Naushad's cousin and friend Shameer who was injured in the attack and hospitalized. The police are confident of catching the culprits in another two days. Naushad was facing charges in 15 cases, and was also registered as rowdy sheeter in Bantwal rural police station, sources said. Out of the 15 cases, he was acquitted in 12, including Nooruddin murder case. After his aqcuittal, he set up a business at Maripalla, but continued to be the target of a rival group.
Shameer's statement
Naushad's cousin Shameer who was with him at the time of the attack was injured and admitted to a hospital. When Shameer tried to intervene and stop the attackers, he too was assaulted.
In his statement to the police on Sunday, Shameer reportedly said that Naushad owed him some money and on Saturday, he came to Shameer's house and said that he did not have enough to pay him back, and would arrange it from someone else. After this, both Naushad and Shameer were about to leave in Naushad's Alto, when a group of people came in an Innova car and launched a sudden attack on Naushad.
Shameer said that among the group, he recognized two of them as Irfan and Toushib. He said that though he pleaded with them not to attack Naushad, they chopped off his hand, while the others blocked the car to prevent Shameer from getting out. Naushad was pulled out of the car and brutally attacked with a sickle. Meanwhile, Shameer managed to get out of the car, but he too was assaulted.
Shameer has never been involved in any criminal case so far. He is employed at a local hospital, sources said. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case and have formed two teams led by Bantwal circle inspector Belliappa and DCIB inspector Basheer Ahmed to track down the culprits.