AIMIM corporator among accused; all 11 attackers absconding after Thursday’s clash

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A violent attack stemming from political rivalry was reported in the Juna Bazaar area on Thursday, in which former corporator’s brother Rafat Yar Khan (45, a resident of Mill Corner) and a leader of the Malegaon-based Islam Party, was seriously injured. Police have registered a case against 11 individuals on charges including attempt to murder and other serious offences.

According to senior police officials, one minor has been detained, while the remaining accused are currently absconding.

The incident follows an earlier dispute on March 20 between Rafat Khan and Minhaj Khan Abdul Jalil Khan (40), brother of corporator Mehraj Khan and a resident of City Chowk. Cases had already been filed in connection with that altercation. On March 26, Rafat Khan visited the City Chowk police station.

Shortly after leaving the premises, he was allegedly attacked by four to five individuals. As per the complaint, Mohammad Khan, son of Mehraj Khan, assaulted him with a baseball stick, reportedly threatening that he had been instructed by his father and uncle Minaj Khan to kill him. The attackers also used iron rods and physically assaulted him, leaving him critically injured. He is currently undergoing treatment.

Accused named in the case

The police have booked Mohammad Khan Mehraj Khan, Jahangir Khan, Osama Kaleem Khan, Sohail Khan alias Laddu, Awez Qazi (Ambad), Rahil Siddiqui, Ahmed Khan, Bashir Khan, Mehraj Khan, Minaj Khan, and Nadeem.

Charges invoked

The accused have been charged under multiple sections, including attempt to murder, causing grievous injury with dangerous weapons, rioting, intentional assault, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assembly. Senior Police Inspector (PI) Nirmala Pardeshi confirmed that, except for the detained minor, all accused are on the run and efforts are underway to trace them.