Two killed in shooutout between rival groups

Superintendent of Police (City) Shailesh Kumar Yadav said: “One person,Saddam Hussain,who had accompanied Mohammad Zaid who was one of the two killed in the incident,has been arrested. He had been named as an accused by the other group.”

The incident occurred in Beli village under Cantonment police station on Friday evening. Mohammad Zaid (30),son of Naseem alias Nassan and a resident of Kasari Masari village,had reached Beli village around 6 pm,along with Saddam and another associate on a motorcycle.

As he took a turn in a lane,Zaid was attacked by Ikrar Ahmed (32) and his two associates,according to police.

Apart from using country-made revolvers,the accused also hurled bombs at Zaid. Ikrar also sustained gunshot injuries when Zaid retaliated with his country-made gun. “Ikrar tried to escape but was shot dead by Saddam and another associate. Zaid too died on the spot,” said Station Officer (Cantonment) Anjani Rai.

Preliminary investigations indicated that a woman had called up Mohammad Zaid to Beli village around 4.15 pm. “It is suspected that Zaid knew this woman well and she was involved in the conspiracy to target Zaid. We are trying to ascertain the identity of the woman,” said Yadav.

Zaid’s father Naseem was a corporator. He was killed in 2002 by the group headed by Ansar Baba,a property dealer said to be close to Atiq Ahmed. In 2008,Ansar Baba was killed by Zaid and other accused. Zaid was in jail and had been released eight months ago. Ikrar,nephew of Ansar Baba,was earlier named in the murder of Naseem. He,along with Baba’s son,Zulfikar,wanted to take revenge. Zulfikar too has been named as accused by Zaid’s family.

The feud between the families of Naseem and Ansar has been going on for over a decade. It began with a property dispute and led to nearly half-a-dozen killings within the families.