Arrested suspect linked to second murder while being out on parole

By Omkar Khandekar

Aman arrested by the Powai police for the murder of an Andheri (E) Colony resident on Wednesday, is a history-sheeter, investigation revealed on Sunday. Serving a life sentence for twin murders, the accused has been out on parole thrice and every time he has been arrested for yet another crime.

Ameen Momeen Khan (32) was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2004 murder of VHP leaders Navinchandra Dubey (40) and Hoshila Upadhyay (44). The VHP leaders were killed in Milind Nagar by a gang of 10 people, because of the enmity between the families of accused and deceased.

Khan was then lodged in Nashik Central Jail, where he granted parole in 2010. But he got involved with another murder, along with his brother and cousins, and was sentenced to another life term. In 2013, while out on parole once again, he violated the conditions. Constable Manoj More (43), attached with the Powai police station, then got a tip off about his whereabouts and went to arrest him but Khan assaulted More. His latest parole was granted on November 4 this year, and yet again, he has been arrested for a murder. Allegedly, a gang of eight people, including Khan, killed a person, Sagar Kambale, who they suspected was a police informer. Police have arrested four people in the case, including Khan and the other prime accused Altaf Khan (21).

LATEST KILLING

According to the officials, deceased Kambale and all the accused lived in the MMRDA complex of Milind Nagar in Andheri (E). Around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, a fight broke out between Kambale and Altaf, and the latter accused him of being a police informer. Altaf has earlier been arrested for housebreaking and stealing a bicycle.

“Kambale hit Altaf on his face. An angered Altaf then threatened him of dire consequences,” said an official from the Powai police station. Apprehensive because of the threat, while going to a community toilet around 2 am, Kambale took a few of his friends along. On the way, Altaf, Khan and others attacked them.

“Kambale’s friends were all unarmed youngsters between 18-20 years of age living in the same colony. They saw that the group was armed with choppers, stumps and bamboo and fled from the scene. Khan, Altaf and their accomplices then dragged Kambale by his hair to Moraji Nagar in Aarey colony, beating and stabbing him through the way,” added the official.

NAKED BODY FOUND IN AAREY COLONY

After some time, Kambale’s friends started looking for him and followed the blood trail. They found his naked body in the forests of Aarey colony around 4 am. The Aarey police was immediately informed, who then informed their counterparts in Powai.

Based on the description provided by one of Kambale’s friends, who also happened to know about Altaf’s whereabouts, the cops arrested him from his residence. On Thursday, the cops got a tip off that three other accused were hiding in an under construction 20-storey building in Aarey Colony. One of the other accused, Mubarak Khan (22), was also arrested in 2011 in an attempt to murder case. He was reportedly delivering food from everybody’s residences to the hideout.

The police then laid a trap and arrested Jamir Ibrahim (20) and Ameen Khan (32) from the building. Mubarak was arrested from Filterpada Colony outside Aarey colony. “We have arrested four accused and they have been remanded to police custody till December 17. We are searching for four more,” said inspector Pushkaraj Suryavanshi with the Powai police.