18 May,2011 06:36 AM IST | | Ketan Ranga
3 assailants opened fire at him in Bhendi Bazaar; one bodyguard dead
DAWOOD Ibrahim's brother, Iqbal Kaskar, had a narrow escape as three unknown assailants opened fire on him at Bori Mohalla in Bhendi Bazaar late last evening.
One of his bodyguards was, however, killed in the shootout.
Iqbal Kaskar, who was shot at by three unidentified men. Cops investigate the spot of the shootout. Hectic activity at Bori Mohalla in Bhendi Bazaar after the incident.
Kaskar's posse of bodyguards was stationed near his apartment in the area when he stepped out around 9.30 pm and was greeted by a hail of bullets as he turned towards the door.
Luck favoured the brother of India's most wanted gangster as he managed to escape unhurt, but one of his bodyguards, Asif Zaveri, was shot. Zaveri was rushed to JJ Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Two other bodyguards, Anwar Hippi and Anwar Karate, managed to survive.
The three assailants tried to dart through the narrow bylanes, but were nabbed and beaten up by bystanders. They were later handed over to the Pydhonie police.
Sources said Kaskar had been seeking police protection for quite some time, but it is still not clear whether he had approached the Mumbai Police.
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Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy confirmed the incident and the arrests, but refused to comment further.
Kaskar was deported to India from UAE in 2003 and was booked for murder and land-grabbing and under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
He was also named in the case involving the makeover of Crawford Market but was later cleared of all charges and acquitted.
Kaskar was seen below his apartment after the shootout. He was wearing a white t-shirt and white trousers. Eyewitnesses said he had come down and handed over a 100-rupee note to a beggar minutes before the firing.
