2 brothers shot dead over hafta row near Mumbai, uncle injured

ULHASNAGAR: Panic gripped Ulhasnagar’s Camp No. 5 area on Thursday evening after assailants allegedly opened indiscriminate fire at Kailash Colony Chowk, killing two brothers, including a minor, and critically injuring their uncle in what police suspect was a fallout of an old rivalry and extortion dispute.

The deceased were identified as Anil Harkesh Chauhan, 22, and his younger brother Aman Harkesh Chauhan, 17. Their uncle, Arjun Surajbali Chauhan, 26, sustained serious bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

According to family members, the incident took place around 7.30 pm when around 10 to 12 persons allegedly arrived at the spot in cars and two-wheelers. The family has named Sagar Patil as the prime accused in the firing incident.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers opened fire in the middle of the road in full public view, triggering chaos in the busy locality. Residents and shopkeepers ran for safety as multiple rounds were allegedly fired.

Police rushed to the spot after receiving information and shifted the victims to Central Hospital. However, Aman Chauhan succumbed to his injuries before he could receive treatment.

An eyewitness said Aman, after being shot, managed to approach him and informed him about the firing. “We first rushed him to a private Balaji Hospital, but since there was no surgeon available there, we shifted him in an autorickshaw to Central Hospital. He died on the way,” the eyewitness said.

Preliminary investigation suggests the attack stemmed from an old dispute between members of the Chauhan family and a group of criminals, allegedly linked to the Ambernath gaon area.

Speaking to TOI, the deceased’s elder brother, Vicky Chauhan, alleged that the accused were demanding money every month from Anil, who worked as a tempo driver. “About a month ago, Sagar Patil, Balvindar Birajdar and Shekhar Birajdar demanded hafta from my brother to allow him to operate his tempo in Ambernath gaon. When he refused, he was threatened,” Vicky claimed.

He further alleged that Anil initially lodged a non-cognisable complaint, or NC, at the Hill Line police station, following which the same group allegedly assaulted him. “My brother later registered an FIR against them, but no strict action was taken. The accused got bail and continued threatening him. Had the police acted seriously, my brother would have been alive today,” he alleged.

Another relative claimed that several accused involved in the firing were history-sheeters with multiple criminal cases registered against them. They also alleged that the accused enjoyed political backing, which is why no stringent police action was taken against them earlier.

Senior police officers, including officials from Hill Line police station, visited the crime scene after the incident. Police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the absconding accused.

A senior police officer said investigators were probing the extortion angle. “During the preliminary inquiry, it has come to light that the accused allegedly demanded hafta from the deceased, and the firing occurred after he refused to pay. Further investigation is underway,” the officer said.

The double murder has sparked tension in the area and raised serious concerns over law and order in Ulhasnagar.