2 killed in Bhendi Bazar shootout were close to Congress leaders

MLC Bhai Jagtap’s personal assistant, Shakeel Modak and another man was shot dead by two unidentified men in Bhendi Bazaar at Dongri.

Of the five people injured in this incident, key Congress aide, Asif Khan alias Dadhi was also seriously injured. He is being treated at JJ hospital along with two others.

The incident took place at about 8pm at Phoolwali Masjid near Shalimar restaurant at Bhendi Bazaar. Two unidentified men came on a bike and shot Modak and Dadhi, both seated on chairs near the masjid, from a distance of 100km, said police sources. Both were shot on the chest.

Two others, one flower seller named Gangubai and a boy were also injured. Dadhi’s name had cropped up soon after the 26/11 attacks when the opposition made allegations that minister Naseem Khan had called Dadhi on the morning of November 26, 2008.

Jagtap had incidentally given up his seat in Khetwadi in the 2009 Assmebly elections after delimitation process. Ameen Patel, who was a corporator was given this seat, which he won. Patel was going to give the seat as corporator to Modak, said Congress sources.

Police sources say the shootout could be a result of a disgruntled   Dawood aide who was unhappy with a property deal with Dadhi and Modak.

Dadhi has earlier been discharged from the special MCOCA court in 2005 where he was alleged to have made phone calls to Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, Iqbal Kaskar in relation to transfer of money.