Agra biryani seller shot dead, killer says 'Pahalgam revenge'
AGRA: Hours after 27-year-old restaurant worker Gulfam Ali was shot dead and his co-worker injured, a self-proclaimed 'gau rakshak' (cow vigilante) who identified himself as Manoj Chaudhary and said he was member of '
Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal
', took to social media on Friday to announce that the murder was "retribution" for the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were killed. He said "there were more deaths to be avenged".
A widely circulated video on social media purportedly shows a man, with two pistols tucked into his jeans and knives strapped on, claiming responsibility for the killing. In the video, Chaudhary, accompanied by another man, is heard saying: "Two k#### (slur) were killed in Taj city Agra. Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal takes responsibility for this."
I pledge in the name of Bharat Mata that if we do not avenge the killing of 26 with 2600, I am not a son of Bharat Mata." He then raises a religious slogan, with the other man chiming in.
The identity of Chaudhary's associate is not known.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Is Reported To Have Read Every...
Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List
Undo
Police, however, rejected the claims and said, "No organisation in the name of 'Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal' is operational (here). The video on social media appears to be a publicity stunt. An FIR has been filed at Tajganj police station, and a probe is on."
Agra police commissioner Deepak Kumar told TOI: "The crime was a fallout of a quarrel over the quality of food a few days ago. Probe has revealed the two men are not Kshatriyas, and their self-declared status as gau rakshaks is also doubtful."
He added, "The motive can only be confirmed after the accused are arrested. It appears to be more of a publicity stunt. CCTV footage from the crime scene shows the presence of four individuals. We have arrested a suspect."
Gulfam worked as a waiter at Shahid Ali Chicken Biryani, owned by his cousin Shahid Ali, in Tajganj area of the city. Around midnight, he was closing for the day when three men came on a scooter and shot him dead. Co-worker Saif Ali, 25, dived down and suffered minor injuries after a pellet grazed his neck.
Saif told TOI: "Two men walked up to Gulfam after parking their scooter some distance away. They said hello to him, to which he responded, and one of them pulled out a pistol and shot him in his chest. Another assailant was standing near the scooter, and the three sped away soon after." Gulfam was rushed to SN Medical College, where he was declared dead.
An FIR was lodged under BNS sections 103 (1) (murder) and 109 (attempt to murder). Police teams are currently analysing CCTV footage and guarding border checkpoints to nab the suspects.
Gulfam was laid to rest after a postmortem on Thursday. His family is now looking to the govt for justice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
PSIs wearing body cams authorised to issue traffic challans
Panaji: With road accidents rising over the past two months, state govt on Saturday decided to allow police sub-inspectors (PSIs) with body-worn cameras to challan traffic violators during the daytime. In April, PSIs were allowed to challan traffic violators at nighttime. 'We will immediately implement the decision to allow PSIs to challan traffic violators during daytime,' DGP Alok Kumar told TOI . PIs were empowered to issue challans for traffic violations during daytime. During the night hours, along with PIs, PSIs were entrusted with the task. Chief minister Pramod Sawant held a review meeting on Friday with Goa police. During the meeting, Goa police apprised the chief minister of the sharp rise in accidents. Police explained to the chief minister that since there was no police presence on the road, there was no fear among the commuters, and they drove in a rash and negligent manner, which resulted in an increase in road accidents, including fatal ones. After going through the presentation of Goa police, Sawant granted permission to the force to allow PSIs to issue challans to traffic violators during the daytime. Sawant made the decision after receiving several complaints regarding harassment from police personnel, especially against those deployed for traffic management and from lower ranks. 'I announced that during daytime, only PIs with body cameras will issue challans, and at night, only PSIs and PIs wearing body cameras will be empowered to do so,' Sawant said. 'Besides PIs and PSIs, no other police personnel can issue challans.' State govt has finalised a private player to implement the Traffic Sentinel Scheme in a new avatar on a public-private partnership model. The private player will give 60.5% of the revenue — collected through fines from traffic violators — to state govt. Mistotex Technology Pvt Ltd has been picked to implement the project. All the infrastructure will be created by the private player. State govt will fit AI-powered dash cams on Goa police vehicles and Kadamba Transport Corporation buses to capture traffic violators. These violations include three people riding on a two-wheeler, riding helmetless, and speeding.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Illegal Sand Smuggling Busted in Multiple Ops
Nagpur: In a series of actions across Nagpur district, police teams from Bhiwapur, Kuhi, and Kanhan police stations have cracked down on illegal sand transportation, registering multiple cases and seizing vehicles and sand worth over Rs58 lakh. The Bhiwapur police launched the first operation on June 7 after receiving a tip-off about illegal sand movement near Hotel Wada in mouja Taas. A blockade was set up, during which a truck was intercepted. On inspection, the truck was found loaded with sand, and driver Mohan Harisingh Walke (37), a resident of Old Bagadganj, Nagpur, failed to produce any valid transport permit. Police later identified the vehicle owner as Kailash Manohar Sapate of Gadchiroli. The truck, valued at Rs30 lakh, along with 8 brass sand worth Rs40,000, was seized. A case has been registered against both the driver and owner under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, Mines and Minerals Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the Environment Protection Act. The driver has been arrested. In a parallel operation, the district transport branch, while enforcing road surveillance near Mauja Champa town on Umred-Nagpur road under Kuhi police limits, intercepted a 10-wheel tipper carrying illegally sourced sand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The driver, Akash Santosh Aratpayre (28), a resident of Umred, was unable to produce a license. The vehicle owner, identified as Milind Dilip Telang of Nandanvan, Nagpur, was also implicated. Police seized the tipper valued at Rs25 lakh and 6 brass sand worth Rs36,000. A case has been registered against both the driver and owner under the same legal provisions. Meanwhile, Kanhan police intercepted a mini truck ferrying sand without permit near Khandala Ghatate. The driver, Ajay Dilip Pantawan (38), a resident of the same locality, admitted that he had no license for sand transport and owned the vehicle himself. Police seized the mini truck worth Rs3 lakh and 1 brass sand valued at Rs2,500. A case has been registered and a probe is underway.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Shamed over ‘unpaid' fees, BPharm student ends life in Lucknow
Lucknow: A 25-year-old final-year bachelor of pharmacy (BPharma) student from a private college in Lucknow's Chinhat area died by suicide on June 5 after being publicly humiliated over pending semester fees. The incident sparked outrage among students and led to the arrest of a college accountant, with four other staff members named in an FIR. The deceased, identified as Shubham Kumar, a resident of Rae Bareli, was found hanging in his hostel room number 109 shortly after he was reportedly barred from attending a farewell function and his practical exams due to fee-related issues. According to his suicide note and statements from friends, he deposited the semester fee, but a technical error in the college's internal system continued to reflect Rs 22,000 as outstanding. On the day of the incident, Shubham arrived at the college to take part in practical examinations and the farewell event. However, he was allegedly stopped by the institution's accountant, who reportedly told him in front of peers, "You can join only after clearing your dues." Feeling humiliated, Shubham returned to his hostel. A few hours later, his friends found his room locked. When there was no response to repeated knocks, they broke the door open and found him hanging from the ceiling fan with a rope. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Police were immediately informed and arrived at the spot to take the body into custody. A two-page suicide note was recovered from the room, in which Shubham wrote: "I deposited the fees in college, but in the system, it continued to show pending. I tried several times to get it corrected, but nothing worked. I was stopped from appearing for my practical exams. I don't know what my friends will think of me. Please forgive me. " Following a complaint by his elder brother, police registered an FIR at Chinhat police station under sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 352 (assault) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The FIR names five individuals from the college, including the principal, a faculty member, the dean, the accountant and another staff member. One of the accused, 32-year-old Mohammad Faiz, a senior accountant originally from Gonda and residing in Chinhat, was arrested on Saturday. Police are currently investigating the roles of the other four accused. Shubham's fellow students alleged that he was previously prevented from attending his practical exams due to the fee dispute. They also claimed that the issue was repeatedly raised with the college authorities, but no resolution was provided. After the news of his death broke, a large number of students gathered outside the hostel and staged a protest demanding a fair investigation and strict action against those responsible. During the protest, some students began recording videos of the scene, which led to an altercation with the hostel warden, who allegedly tried to stop them from filming. Shubham, described by his peers as hardworking and soft-spoken, had no known personal or academic problems except for the fee-related issue. According to the family, he was under stress for weeks due to the college's refusal to update its records despite his repeated clarifications. The incident has once again raised serious questions about the insensitivity of educational institutions in dealing with students' financial and emotional well-being.
