Tension erupted in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district following a firing incident in which a man accused of murder was killed. The police imposed a 48-hour shutdown on Internet services after the deceased’s family and acquaintances resorted to vandalism and took to the streets.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Aadarsh Siddhu on Friday said that two accused have been detained.
ASP Jyeshtha Maitreyi said that two brothers, Ibrahim Pathan alias Bhura (34) and Kamruddin alias Tony (22), sons of Munshi Khan Pathan were going towards Harni Mahadev from Badla intersection in Bhilwara. Around 3.30 p.m. on Thursday, four miscreants came on two bikes and started firing at them. They fired three rounds. One bullet hit Ibrahim Pathan, who died. His brother Kamruddin was also injured. On getting the information, the police reached the spot and took both of them to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
After Pathan’s death, his family members and other people created ruckus inside the hospital. As the mob started vandalizing the property, the police were informed. The family has demanded a ‘compensation’ of Rs 50 lakh, government job and Rs 10 lakh to the injured. After an uproar for about half an hour, the police chased them out of the hospital.
Police force was deployed everywhere in the city including Mahatma Gandhi hospital, Badla Chauraha, Bhimganj, CT Kotwali and the administration banned the Internet for the next 48 hours. The divisional commissioner issued orders regarding this.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the two were shot to avenge the murder of Adarsh Tapadia, a local businessman’s 20-year-old son who was stabbed and beaten to death six months ago due to a petty dispute over money. Ironically, Adarsh had also passed away in the same Mahatma Gandhi hospital. City-wide protests had broken out after his murder with many Hindu organizations demanding justice.
The two Pathan brothers were prime accused in Adarsh’s murder as per his family, but were apparently roaming free in Congress-ruled Rajasthan.
Back in May, Adarsh’s brother Mayank Tapadia, who was present at the time of the incident, had recalled the night of the horror when his brother was killed in front of eyes. Mayank said that he apologised to the assailants but they still attacked Adarsh.
Mayank had identified Kamruddin (Tony) Pathan, Munaf Pathan and Ibrahim Pathan as the key accused in the case. Mayank said that he saw Tony, one of the accused, stabbing his brother Adarsh in front of his eyes. However, police only arrested three minors for Adarsh’s killing, and back then an anguished Mayank had asked why the main accused had not been arrested.
Bhilwara Superintendent of Police Adarsh Sidhu said the two main suspects in Thursday’s killing had been taken into custody. An India Today report has identified them as Mayank Tapadia and Kalu alias Raghuvir Tapadia. Mayank wanted to take revenge of his brother’s murder and was waiting for the right opportunity to execute his plan, said the police.
The report adds that the Pathans and Tapadias used to stay in the same locality and were ‘friends’ at one time before a dispute broke out between them over a financial matter.
(With IANS inputs)
