Former Surat AIMIM president and two others were arrested while another two are on the run in connection with an alleged contract-killing of two youths over personal enmity, Surat rural police said Thursday.
The accused, identified as Khurshid Saiyed (58), his son-in-law Aslam Shaikh (34) and Kaushik Vasava, have been remanded for six days in Umarpada police custody. Saiyed is the former Surat city unit president of AIMIM. The two others at large have been identified as a history-sheeter Afzal Shaikh and Pragnesh Gamit. Afzal and Aslam are brothers.
The alleged murder happened on June 8 after which the bodies were buried in a graveyard to cover up the crime. According to police, Khurshid Saiyed had gotten into a fight with a youth named Bilal Saiyed in Limbayat over a trivial issue a year ago. Bilal and his friend had allegedly attacked Khurshid in public following which Khurshid had registered a case against the two at the Limbayat police station. Bilal and the friend were arrested and later released on bail.
However, even after his release Bilal allegedly continued to harass a humiliated Khurshid who turned to his son-in-law Aslam for help. Aslam contacted Afzal, and a deal for Rs 16 lakh was struck between Khurshid and Afzal to kill Bilal.
Subsequently, Afzal befriended Bilal and his friend Azhar Shaikh. On June 8, Afzal invited Bilal and Azhar over to his place at Uchamal village in Surat for some work. Afzal, along with Vasava and Gamit, killed the duo and buried their bodies in a graveyard.
The next morning, the graveyard’s caretaker found traces of what looked like something heavy was dragged over the ground. Suspecting foul play, he informed village Sarpanch Anil Vasava who alerted the police who later found the bodies. The bodies were found with their hands and legs tied using ropes, in addition to stab wounds.
Ten teams under Surat district divisional police officer B K Vanar were formed to probe the case based on a complaint filed by Bilal’s elder brother Kadir. “Khurshid wanted to avenge his humiliation. He had given a contract to Afzal to eliminate him. The accused killed Bilal and fearing that Azhar might inform others, he was also killed,” Vanar said.
Vanar said Afzal has six cases of heinous crimes registered in Bharuch, Banaskantha and Umarpada.
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