BANGALORE: BBMP corporator and rowdy Haaji Mohammad Ali alias Deewan Ali (37) was shot dead near his office at Yarabnagar in Banashankari on Sunday afternoon. He was the JD(S) corportor of Temple Ward of the BBMP (Ward no 180).
Police said at around 12 noon, seven men came on bikes armed with lethal weapons and a pistol, and as Ali was coming out of a saloon on Masjid Road after a hair cut, they tried to attack him. Ali tried to escape but was hit by a long sharp-edged weapon and then shot in the chest, police said. Ali’s associates — Zaheer, Khalimulla, Umar and Pater Khaleema —who rushed to his rescue were also injured in the act.
Ali was taken to Sagar Hospital in Banashankari where the doctors pronounced him brought dead.His associates have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, Yarabnagar wore a deserted look as shops were closed and streets were empty. To avoid any untoward incident, police beefed up security by deploying more policemen.
An autopsy was conducted on Ali’s body at KIMS Hospital and his body was kept in front of his residence. The last rites took place at the burial ground at Wilson Garden. Police suspect the hand of Ali’s rival, Mahim, behind the murder. The two had hatched plots to eliminate each other, police said.
City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said there were intelligence reports that Ali had given ‘supari’ to Zafru, the brother of slain rowdy Nasru, and his aides to eliminate Mahim.
“Mahim was also planning to kill Ali. He had engaged rowdies — Shanawaz and Taslim of Neelasandra, Shann of Tilaknagar, Mugdum, Boti Nayeem of Shivajinagar and Katte Sabir of Bommanahalli — to execute the murder. He had also provided them a Ford Ikon with the registration number KA-05 5862,” he said.