Preliminary investigations into the murder of Zahid Mir alias Chote Miyan indicate infighting between two factions of the Dawood Company.
Preliminary investigations into the murder of Zahid Mir alias Chote Miyan indicate infighting between two factions of the Dawood Company.
Chote Miyan was one of the most trusted aides of Dawood’s lieutenant Chhota Shakeel and was mainly in charge of the gambling business.
Miyan’s friend, who is now a police informer, said Miyan had some monetary dispute with a few close aides of a relative of Dawood. “He owned the D Company some money. And he had not returned it despite being repeatedly warned by Dawood’s relative,” he said. “This could have led to his murder.”
Miyan and his nephew Ashraf Patel died of bullet injuries on Wednesday night after being shot at close range by four armed men. Two others, who were sitting with him on a pavement at Arab Galli near the Delhi Durbar hotel, survived the attack.
“We are trying to find out if Miyan had any monetary dispute with anyone. Also, if he had any rivalry with anyone in the gang,” Sanjay Kadam, the senior police inspector of Nagpada police station, said. “We are also investigating if there were other issues that could have led to the murder.”
Police said that the people who killed Miyan knew about his routine. “The murder was well planned and executed in such a way that no one was caught though they shot at him and the others in a crowded place,” another officer said. After the shooting, the men took a taxi and went towards Byculla.
Investigations into the murder of Irfan Chindi, a top-level police informer, hint at Miyan’s involvement. Police are trying to find out if Chindi’s men were involved in Wednesday’s shooting.
“Sketches of the assailants are being prepared on the basis of information provided by the two survivors,” Rakesh Maria, the joint commissioner of police (crime), said.
A woman present at the spot told the police that she had seen the shooters. “The woman said they were slim, dark, and of medium built. One of them had long hair,” another officer from Nagpada police station said. Four teams are investigating all angles. “Seven bullets were fired by the shooters. It is believed that .32 bore revolvers were used in the firing,” he said.
(With inputs from Dayanand Kamath)
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