Gangster’s brother shot at in Udaipur

In what the city police believe is the outcome of a gang war, an unidentified man riding pillion on a scooter shot at Akhtar Rasool, the elder brother of gangster Azam.

In the shootout, which took place at 10pm on Thursday, Rasool received injury in his back and is being treated at a hospital in the district, the police said. Rasool is out of danger, they added.

Azam is a key witness in the Tulsiram Prajapat encounter case. Prajapat, a criminal, was allegedly killed in an encounter by the Gujarat police in 2006.

Rasool’s uncle Iqbal Hussain said he (Rasool) was sitting at his hotel in Mukherji Chowk when two people riding a scooter came to the tea stall at the hotel and asked for tea. Suddenly, the man riding pillion whipped out a gun and shot at Rasool. The two fled after the shooting.

Rasool was rushed to a nearby private hospital where, according to his family members, doctors did not attend to him for more than an hour insisting that they deposit the hospital charges first. However, after intervention from senior officials, his treatment started.

“The 46-year-old elder brother of Azam was targeted because of gang rivalry,” said Rajesh Sharma, station house officer (SHO), Dhan Mandi police station. “Azam and Imran Kunjara operate two different gangs in the city and are rivals. The shooting could be the result of that rivalry,” the SHO added.

Rasool also suspected Kunjara’s hand in the attack. HTC