The Bhopal Police captured Arif, also known as Bom, the main suspect in the fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old man, after a brief clash in Ratibad on the outskirts of the city. Arif had been evading authorities since allegedly attacking Vijay Mewada during a minor dispute in Bhopal’s Ashoka Garden area. The victim tragically passed away due to his injuries.
Following the incident, two other suspects were promptly apprehended. Arif, sustaining injuries during the encounter, received medical treatment at Hamidia Hospital. Security measures were heightened outside the hospital, as confirmed by a police official from Ratibad police station.
In response to the incident, various groups, including right-wing members, staged protests in the city, urging for severe punishment for those responsible for the killing. The demonstrators caused disruptions by blocking roads and attempting to march towards Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s residence in Shyamla Hills, necessitating a significant police presence to maintain order.
Amidst the unrest, law enforcement utilized mild force, such as water cannons, to disperse the agitated crowd, which also demanded action against alleged illicit properties associated with the suspects. These events unfolded shortly after senior BJP leader and state minister Vishwas Sarang expressed dissatisfaction over the delayed arrest, instructing authorities to take stringent measures, including the demolition of any illegal structures linked to the accused.
Vishwas Sarang met with the victim’s family, offering assurances of rigorous legal consequences for all involved parties. Additionally, he pledged financial and social assistance to the family, including covering the educational expenses of Mewada’s daughters, establishing fixed deposits of Rs 50,000 in their names, and facilitating employment for his wife.
According to police reports, the tragic incident occurred as Mewada was returning home after closing his tea shop in Kolar. Upon dropping off his workers, he encountered Arif and his associates, Imran, Farman, and Kalu. An altercation ensued when the suspects invited the workers to a drinking session, leading to Mewada’s intervention and subsequent fatal stabbing by Arif.
