Bhopal, April 1 The Bhopal Police on Wednesday arrested Arif alias Bom, the prime accused in the brutal murder of a 35-year-old man, following a brief encounter in the Ratibad area on the outskirts of the city.
He had been absconding since Sunday night, when he allegedly stabbed Vijay Mewada during a minor altercation in the Ashoka Garden area of Bhopal. The victim later succumbed to his injuries.
Two of the accused were arrested soon after the incident.
The accused, identified as Asif alias Bom, sustained injuries during the encounter and was admitted to Hamidia Hospital for treatment. Security has been tightened outside the hospital, a police official from Ratibad police station told IANS.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed in parts of the city as a large number of people, including members of right-wing groups, staged protests demanding capital punishment for those involved in the killing. Protesters blocked roads and attempted to march towards Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s residence in Shyamla Hills, but were stopped by heavy police deployment.
The police used mild force, including water cannons, to disperse the crowd, which was also demanding action against alleged illegal properties linked to the accused.
The developments came hours after senior BJP leader and state minister Vishwas Sarang expressed displeasure over the delay in the arrest. He directed the district administration and the police to take strict action, including demolition of any illegal structures associated with the accused.
Sarang met the victim’s family on Tuesday and assured them that all those involved would face stringent legal action. He also announced financial and social support for the family, including covering the education expenses of Mewada’s two daughters, setting up fixed deposits of Rs 50,000 in their names, and facilitating employment for his wife.
According to the police, the incident took place when Mewada was returning home after closing his tea shop in Kolar in the city. After dropping his workers at Pragati Nagar, he reportedly encountered Asif and his associates, identified as Imran, Farman, and Kalu.
The accused allegedly invited the workers to a liquor party. When they refused, an argument broke out. The police said Mewada intervened and asked them to stop using abusive language, following which the situation escalated. Asif allegedly stabbed him eight times in the chest and abdomen.
Two co-accused, Imran and Farman, were arrested shortly after the incident, while the main accused was on the run until Wednesday’s arrest.
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