Mahim building resident chases and thrashes daily wage worker, tells police he thought man had come to steal two-wheelers; Hasan Mehboob Shaikh, 38, succumbed to his injuries later that night
Hasan Mehboob Shaikh, the deceased
In a case of mistaken identity, a man fatally assaulted a daily wage labourer with a bamboo stick in Mahim on Wednesday night, allegedly after assuming he was a thief. Hasan Mehboob Shaikh, 38, succumbed to his injuries later that night. Police said Shaikh’s family, originally from Andhra Pradesh, has been living in Mahim for over 50 years. The arrested accused Mohammad Aslam Ansari, 43, a resident of Fisherman Colony in Mahim West told police he thought Shaikh had come to steal bikes in the area.
Shaikh, a resident of Ramgadh Slum, Police Line, Mahim West, worked as a daily wage labourer alongside his elder brother. He was married and the father of three children, the eldest being around eight years old.
The police are investigation all angles, including a personal grudge which may have led to the assault. Representation pic/iStock
Hussain Mehboob Shaikh, elder brother of the deceased, alleged that Shaikh sometimes consumed alcohol and had gone with a friend near Ansari’s building on the night of the incident. “The two were sitting and talking when Ansari, suspecting they were bike thieves, confronted them with a bamboo stick. His friend managed to escape, but as he (Shaikh) tried to flee, Ansari chased and continued to assault him,” he told mid-day.
“I was in the garden when I heard some screaming, but didn’t pay attention. Later, I saw my brother walking with a limp, blood oozing from all over his body. I brought him home and saw the extent of his injuries in the light. There wasn’t a single part of his body left uninjured. I think the bamboo used was studded with nails,” the deceased’s brother added. “I immediately informed the police and rushed him to Bhabha Hospital, but he died late at night.”
Hussain, who takes up cleaning contracts, said his brother often accompanied him for work. Speaking about the accused, he added, “We have heard that Ansari had assaulted someone else in a similar manner a few years ago.”
Khwaja, Shaikh’s younger brother, told mid-day, “If you show my brother's photo and ask around, anyone in the area will tell you he was a very simple and decent person.”
Khwaja alleged that Sahikh was with his childhood friend Yanka when the incident occurred. “Yanka had a habit of consuming alcohol, and sometimes Shaikh would drink with him. When they didn’t have money for alcohol, Yanka would collect scrap from the debris and sell it to buy alcohol. Yanka has also told the police that he had gone into the building premises while my brother remained outside. Ansari first attacked Yanka, but he managed to escape. He then turned on my brother, who was still outside the building. My brother repeatedly told him that he hadn’t done anything wrong and that Ansari knew him too, but Ansari continued to assault him.”
Khwaja asserted that if Ansari suspected his brother of theft, he should have informed the police instead of assaulting him.
Popat Avhad, inspector in-charge, Mahim police station, said, “Based on the complaint filed by the victim's brother, we registered a case and arrested Ansari. He was produced before the court on Thursday and has been remanded to four days of police custody. Further investigation is underway.”
Police sources said they verifying Ansari’s claim and also investigating other angles, such as a personal grudge which may have resulted in the assault. Sources added that theft cases are frequently reported in the area, which people may be anxious.
Fifty
No. of years victim’s family has lived in area
May 14
Day incident occurred
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