'Cop killings at Bhiwandi planned, hardcore criminals were used'

Hardcore criminals were used: Police

According to Bhiwandi police sources, the 13 men arrested killing the two policemen on July 5 had pre-planned the attack and the entire group which carried the assault on head constable Ramesh Jagtap and police constable BS Gangurde on the night of July 5 was equipped with sharp weapons like knives, choppers, iron rods and swords. The killings were carried out to avenge the death of two men in the police firing, sources added.

Police sources also said that the brother of Ramzan, who was killed in police firing, was also in the group.  He is now absconding.

The accused have been identified as Shakeel alias Bail Rizwan Ansari, 32, Iftikhar Zubair Ahmed Qureshi, 34, Nadeem Shahajahan Ansari, 22, Shafi Azmal Vinchu, 22, Azmal Malik Vinchu, 42, Ahmed Haji Mohammed Ansari, 26, Fakre Alam Mohammed Imtiyaz Malik, 24, Atiq Ahmed Abdul Raheem Ansari, 24, Mohammed Quasim Mohammed Salim Ansari, 23, Mohammed Aseem Mohammed Salim Ansari, 20, Soyal Adbul Rasheed Ansari, 22, Mohammed Haneef Khan Shafeeq Khan, 19, Gaffar Ali Sheikh, 22. The accused are in police custody till July 12.

The lawyers or families of the accused could not be contacted.