Patna: Five men were arrested within 24 hours of the murder of advocate Mohammad Azimuddin Ansari alias Guddu Ansari in Katihar, with police recovering the weapons and vehicles allegedly used in the crime, Katihar SP Parichay Kumar said while addressing mediapersons on Tuesday.Ansari was allegedly attacked with a knife and shot dead by a group of men while he was travelling between Hariganj Chowk and Patel Chowk under Town police station limits on Monday. Police said he was first intercepted and assaulted before being stabbed and shot. He was taken to Sadar Hospital, where he was declared dead.Kumar said an SIT was formed immediately under the leadership of SDPO Sadar-I after the incident. Scientific investigation was carried out, evidence was collected and available CCTV footage was examined to identify the suspects.The five arrested accused were identified as Mohammad Rehan (21), Mohammad Ashfaq (23), Inayat (20), Mohammad Mahfuz (19) and Munna alias Akhtar (42). They were arrested from different locations in Katihar and Purnia during overnight raids. Rehan was detained at the Purnia bus stand while he was allegedly preparing to travel to Patna. Police also seized his Purnia-Patna bus ticket.According to Kumar, CCTV footage showed Rehan allegedly attacking Ansari with a knife, while another accused, Ashfaq, was seen assaulting him with a belt. Police said the five accused have confessed to their involvement, and two other suspects are still absconding.A country-made pistol, two live cartridges, a scooter, a motorcycle and a knife were recovered. Five mobile phones were also seized. Clothes worn by Rehan, Ashfaq and Inayat at the time of the incident were seized and will be sent for forensic examination. “The FSL team will examine the recovered weapons, clothes and other evidence, including material recovered on the basis of the accused’s disclosures,” Kumar said.The SP said the murder was allegedly linked to an old dispute over a passage (lane) involving the victim’s sister and the accused’s family. The matter was pending before a court. Kumar said that around a month ago, Ansari had allegedly assaulted Mohammad Muzammil alias Khokha, Rehan’s father, inside the court premises in connection with the dispute. Police believe the murder was carried out in retaliation.Kumar said Muzammil, who allegedly fired the shot, and Mohammad Aslam are the two suspects still absconding. “Police were conducting raids to arrest them,” he said.The SP also said police records showed that the deceased had a criminal history, including previous murder-related cases. He added that the accused had also claimed that Ansari had threatened them, although the alleged threat had not been reported to police.Responding to allegations by the victim’s family that Ansari had repeatedly approached police over threats to his life, Kumar said the allegation would be investigated. He said action would be taken if any police personnel were found negligent.Kumar said the case would be placed on a speedy trial track, citing the availability of strong technical evidence, CCTV footage and recoveries linked to the accused.
