Slain gangsters’ nephew held for Nagpada revenge killing

Mumbai: The crime branch of city police on Friday arrested two men from Nagpur in connection with the murder of a 78-year-old man in Nagpada on April 20.The 29-year-old accused, Sadique Jawar, is the nephew of two alleged gangsters, Sadique Kalia and Arif Kalia, who were killed in police encounters in 1999 and 2002, respectively.Jawar suspected that the deceased acted as an informant for the police that resulted in the encounters of his uncles, and the grudge against the deceased led to the murder, according to police.Another accused has been identified as Naushad Mithani (25). He is said to be Jawar's associate.Jawar used to work at his father's grocery shop.The deceased, Mohammed Iqbal Seliya, lived with his family in Nagpada while Jawar lives in Mira Road. On April 20 evening, Jawar and Mithani arrived at Seliya's Madanpura residence and during a heated argument, Jawar allegedly stabbed Seliya over a dozen times in the neck, abdomen, chest, and hands. They fled the area after the attack. Seliya was taken to hospital where he was declared dead. At the time of the incident, Seliya's wife and son were not home.A murder case was registered with the Nagpada police. The two accused changed their location and switched off their mobile phones. The crime branch also began a parallel probe and, using technical and human intelligence, it found the location of the two accused. The crime branch personnel traced the two accused in the Bada Taj Bagh area in Nagpur and arrested them.The accused were produced before a court, which remanded them in police custody till May 2.