BHOPAL: Exposing the state of security in Madhya Pradesh courts, an undertrial former BJP minority cell leader was shot dead from close range by rival gang members within the court premises of Chhindwara district on Friday afternoon.
Located around 300 km from Bhopal, Chhindwara is MPs biggest district. The incident happened outside Court No. 17 at around 2.15 pm, when the under trial, Mohd Eklaq was being taken in police custody to be produced in an attempt to murder case.
Suddenly three members rival Narendra Patel’s gang confronted the Eklaq Khan outside the court room. One man, Prashant Sahu, whipped out a pistol and took shots at Eklaq.
Eklaq sustained bullet injuries to his head and chest and slumped to the ground. Two more bullets fired by Prashant Sahu hit the door of the court room.
Panic struck and there was utter chaos inside the court premises. The police, however, managed to arrest Prashant Sahu and his two aides.
A police sub inspector Brijesh Mishra who had come to court in connection with an Arms Act case helped the police team nab Prashant Sahu, Raja Kahar and Ashish Bains. All three have been arrested and the country made pistol used in the crime has been recovered, said DIG Chhindwara Range Dr GK Pathak.
Eklaq was rushed to a hospital but was declared brought dead. The incident is seen as the fallout of gang war between two rival gangs in Chhindwara.
In May 2017, Eklaq, then a BJP minority cell member was arrested for attempting to kill rival gang leader and Shiv Sena member Narendra Patel.
The ruling BJP had subsequently expelled him.
"Primary investigations suggest that Prashant Sahu and two aides working for Patel's gang shot dead Eklaq to avenge the attack on their gang leader," said GK Pathak.