Asif, the prime suspect in the brutal murder of a Bhopal hotel owner, has been apprehended by police after a dramatic encounter that resulted in him being shot and hospitalised, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
Key Points
- Prime suspect Asif arrested in connection to the murder of a hotel owner in Bhopal after a police encounter.
- Asif was shot in the leg during the encounter and is currently hospitalised.
- The hotel owner, Vijay Mewada, was murdered with a sharp weapon in the Ashoka Garden area.
- Two other suspects, Farman and Imran, were previously arrested in connection with the murder.
- A reward of Rs 30,000 was offered for information leading to Asif's arrest.
Police on Wednesday arrested the prime accused in the murder of a hotel owner in Bhopal after a brief encounter, an official said.
The accused, Asif alias Bam, was shot in the leg during the encounter and was later admitted to the hospital for treatment, they said.
According to police, hotel owner Vijay Mewada was murdered with a sharp-edged weapon at Pragati Nagar in the Ashoka Garden area two days ago.
Three persons were suspected of being involved in the crime. The police had arrested two of them, Farman and Imran, while the main accused, Asif, was absconding since the incident. A reward of Rs 30,000 was announced for him, a police official said.
The Arrest and Encounter
Based on a tip-off, a team of security personnel laid a siege at a forest in the Ratibad area to apprehend the accused, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Akhil Patel told PTI.
During the operation, the accused attacked the police team and tried to escape. In retaliation, the police fired a shot, hitting him in the leg, he said.
The injured accused was admitted to Hamidia Hospital and his condition was reported to be stable, Patel said.
Background of the Murder
Two days ago, Mewada was dropping off one of his employees at home. On the way, the employee got into an argument with his acquaintances in the Ashoka Garden area. When Mewada tried to intervene, Asif allegedly attacked him with a knife, resulting in his death, another official said.
Tension prevailed in the area following the incident. Local residents and some organisations had protested outside the Ashoka Garden police station over the incident.
