‘Both victims died of bullet injuries’

The parents of Aftab Alam Akhtar Khan (18), who died of bullet injuries on Saturday's riots, did not know he was planning to join the Azad Maidan protest against atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar.

At Quresh Nagar in Kurla (West), Khan's parents are devastated to have lost their eldest child. The commerce student at Habib College was among the four children of a daily wage labourer. As usual, he had left his Kasaiwada house on Saturday morning for college located on Sandust Road.

"Khan had not informed his parents that he was going to Azad Maidan. We did not even imagine that he would be present at the riots. When we received a phone call from the police that Khan was admitted to JJ Hospital with a bullet injury, we were shocked," said a relative.

Crime Branch sources said Section 302 pertaining to murder had been applied in Khan's case since the circumstances under which he died are not clear.

Another victim, Mohammad Umar Ansar (22), also died of a bullet shot. Police sources said there were four cases of rioting and assault against him at the Nirmal Nagar police station. He had been served externment notices in 2004 and June 2012 under Sections 110 and 108 of the CrPc by the police.

JJ Hospital doctors, who conducted post-mortem examination of the two, said they had bullet injuries on their arms. "A detailed report is awaited from the forensic laboratory," said Dr TP Lahne, dean of JJ Hospital.

The bodies of Khan and Ansar were taken to the burial ground on Sunday afternoon by family and friends.

Ansar stayed in Garib Nagar near the Bandra railway station. His family too was in a state of shock and refused to speak. His friends maintained they had received an SMS inviting them to join the peaceful protest. "We did not intend creating ruckus at the protest. We went because we were invited. Ansar was shot when we started to disperse on hearing gunshots," said Salim, who was present at the funeral of Ansar.

ALSO READ

Arrested suspect, accused of same height: Victim

Island city residents may face power tariff hike for 3 years

Two Kabir Kala Manch members arrested after four-hour ‘wait’

No blocks left as MMRDA gets right of way for freeway stretch