Trio beats hotelier to death over monetary dispute

A 50-year old hotelier was allegedly beaten to death by three people in Agripada on Saturday night. One of the accused needs to be hospitalised as he was beaten by the locals. The Agripada police have arrested two of the three.

The deceased has been identified as Agripada resident Taufiq AA Siddiqui, while the accused are Mohammed Wazir Shaikh, 61, his son Mohammed Zafar and cousin Parvez Shaikh, 37. Siddiqui and Wazir had a dispute over the rent of Usmani Hotel located in Kalapani area of Agripada.

The hotel was owned by Wazir’s family and rented out to Siddiqui, who was running it since 25 years. Wazir demanded an increase in the rent, but Siddiqui was not interested in running the hotel anymore and asked for his deposit back. “A heated argument ensued, after which the trio thrashed Siddqui, who later succumbed,” said an officer.