Two days after two men on a bike allegedly stabbed 50-year-old YouTuber Saleem Wastik in the stomach and slit his throat in Ghaziabad, the police on Monday said that the attack was allegedly carried out by two brothers — Zeeshan and Gulfam. Officers said that Zeeshan — who had sustained “serious injuries” during an exchange of fire with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Ghaziabad police on Sunday night — died later during treatment.
Originally from Amroha’s Syed Nagli village, the accused were currently living in a rented accommodation in Ghaziabad’s Khoda, police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ghaziabad (Rural), Surendra Nath Tiwari, on Monday confirmed the involvement of the brothers in the attack. “The police also recovered a paper knife, which was used to slit Wastik’s throat, with bloodstains on it, apart from a pistol, six live cartridges and a two-wheeler from the accused,” he said.
“We learnt that the accused were entering Loni to commit another crime. We barricaded the entire area. Around 9:10 pm, we spotted two men on a motorcycle. We asked them to stop, but they opened fire at us, injuring head constables Vipin Thakur and Sachin Kumar,” the DCP said.
Tiwari added that Zeeshan sustained injuries, while the other managed to flee. “We are not sure if the pillion rider was Gulfam,” the DCP said, adding: “Zeeshan later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.”
Zeeshan’s father, Buniyad Ali, who was waiting for his body outside a post-mortem house in Ghaziabad on Monday morning, said he was informed about the death around 2:30 am. “I had called Zeeshan around 7:30 pm. Someone answered, but did not speak. I yelled… and the phone was disconnected and then switched off,” said the 54-year-old father, breaking into tears.
“Later, officers arrived at my house in Amroha and said that my son had sustained injuries and was admitted to some hospital in Ghaziabad. Around 2:30 am, I was informed that he had died,” Buniyad said.
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He said Zeeshan had been staying in Ghaziabad for the last two-and-a-half years and was working as a carpenter. “He was the youngest among seven siblings. I did not know he was up to all these…,” the father said, adding that he has not heard from Gulfam as well. “His phone is switched off too.”
Wastik’s son, Usman, told The Indian Express: “My father is very critical. We have shifted him to another hospital, owing to security reasons. We are scared and not in a position to talk.”
“My family is grieving. Police are doing their job. We want all the attackers to be arrested,” Usman added.
An officer had said that the accused were allegedly upset with Wastik over his views on Islam. “Wastik had renounced Islam and had begun speaking publicly against Islam,” another had said.
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Wastik’s friend Ehsan on Monday said that there was only a slight improvement in Wastik’s health. “On Friday morning, I got a call from the neighbours. They said Wastik was attacked,” Ehsan said.
“We identified the brothers with the help of electronic surveillance, CCTV footage and intelligence inputs. They had rented an accommodation in Ghaziabad’s Khoda. A bounty of Rs 1 lakh was also declared,” an officer said.
“We will trace the other accused soon,” said DCP Tiwari.
Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Professional Profile
Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations.
Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities:
1. Environment & Public Safety
"Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans.
"Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people.
"At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital.
"Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents.
2. Crime & Legal Developments
"'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused.
"After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement.
"Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida.
3. Human Interest & Features
"'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter.
"How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city.
Signature Style
Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More
