3 held for killing Nigerian drug peddler

The Dongri police on Wednesday arrested three persons for allegedly murdering a Nigerian national during a clash between two groups over drug peddling. The arrestees have been identified as Alam Ali Sheikh, Yusuf Ali Sheikh and Afzal Ali Sheikh.

According to the police, a local group attacked Samson Chivistian Chidkave (27), a drug-peddler, with a knife at the Sandhurst Road railway yard on September 17. "After a grievously injured Samson collapsed in a pool of blood, his associates fled the spot with him. They admitted him to a civic hospital in Navi Mumbai, where he died during treatment," said a police officer.

The Vashi police have registered an offence of murder in the case and transferred it to their Dongri counterparts for further probe. "During investigation, it was found that the clash between the groups was over smuggling of narcotics," the officer said.

Notably, in April, when the Mumbai Crime Branch launched an operation against these drug peddlers, who operate near Wadibunder and Dongri, seven policemen were injured during stone-pelting in the area.