Bhopal, April 1: Bhopal police arrested the main suspect in the murder of hotel owner Vijay Mewada following a brief shootout in the Ratibad area. The accused, Asif alias Bomb, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg during the encounter and was immediately taken to Hamidia Hospital for treatment.
According to police, they received specific intelligence that Asif was hiding in the Samaspur/Kerwa jungle area near Ratibad. While being transported to the police station, Asif suddenly drew a pistol and fired at the police team around 12:15 PM. The police retaliated in self-defense, resulting in his injury. A reward of ₹30,000 was announced for information leading to his arrest.
It is reported that two days prior, a murder occurred near Pragat Nagar under the Ashoka Garden police station area. The 35-year-old Vijay Mewada had a minor dispute with Asif and his associates near Prabhat Petrol Pump, which escalated when they attacked him with sharp weapons. Mewada suffered severe injuries and died during treatment at Hamidia Hospital.
Following the incident, police had already arrested two other suspects, Farmaan and Imran, while Asif had been on the run. Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar confirmed the encounter, which has sparked significant public outrage. Various organizations held protests and marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence, demanding swift justice.
Protesters chanted slogans urging the police to apprehend the suspects and demolish their properties using bulldozers. Police intervened at Polytechnic Square to disperse the crowd. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and further investigations are ongoing.