While the police are on their toes to nab the accused, the incident has sent shivers down the spine of councillors with a criminal background.
Several persons were interrogated in connection with Sunday’s daylight murder of rowdy-turned-BBMP councillor Mohammed Ali alias Diwana Ali in Yarabnagar, police said, adding that no arrests were made so far.
“The investigation is in progress and it is not prudent to reveal any details now. We have definite information about the accused. Many persons have been subjected to interrogation, but no arrests have been made,” city police commissioner Shankar M Bidari said on Monday.
The city police have formed five teams to arrest the gang which shot at and hacked Ali to death. The deceased’s two associates were injured in the attack.
Though the prime suspect was Ali’s rival gangster Mahim alias Mahin, the police were yet to find any substantial evidence to establish his direct involvement. His whereabouts were not known.
The police registered a case on Sunday on a complaint by Khaleem Khan, who had reportedly witnessed the attack. He had named three men in his complaint: Afsar Khan alias Afi, Shahnawaz alias Shanu and Mugdam, besides eight others.
An investigating officer, meanwhile, expressed suspicion that Mahim was being falsely implicated by the witness.
“Although the complainant has named three persons, he did not identify them during an identification parade. This makes us suspect if the victim’s supporters are simply accusing Mahim due to old rivalry. The main accused is Afi, who is still absconding,” he said requesting anonymity.
“Ali had been facing threats to his life. The police did not provide him security despite his request. He was attacked in the Magistrate’s court premises in December. A complaint was lodged with the Halasuru Police. Mahim’s men would frequently take rounds in our locality to check his security. But we used to know of their visit and alert Ali. On Sundays, Ali normally had minimal security since his supporters would take a break. They took advantage of the relaxed security yesterday,” a supporter of Ali said.
Murder suspect Afi was previously residing in Yarabnagar. His father used to sell liquor, which had created problems in the locality. After Ali moved to Yarabnagar from Konankunte, he intervened in the matter, and subsequently Afi had to leave the locality. Ali’s supporters were also suspecting two more persons, Asgar alias Snake Asgar and Munna behind the lethal attack.
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