Five arrested for murder of man in Bandlaguda following gang rivalry

Five men were arrested by the Hyderabad police within two days of the murder of a 24-year-old man, Shaik Mohisin, in Ghouse Nagar of Bandlaguda, in a case linked to ongoing rivalries between local cow-theft gangs.

Those arrested individuals were identified as Syed Sha Fahad, 23, a cab driver; Syed Sohail, 21, an auto driver; Mohammed Amer, 24, an auto driver; Mohammed Bin Abdullah Saif alias Mohammed Topi, 32, an auto driver; and Shaik Afroz, 30, a cab driver, all residents of the Bandlaguda and Falaknuma areas of Hyderabad.

The murder was reported on the night of October 29 and all five accused were arrested on November 1.

Investigation revealed that the accused were close friends. Fahad and Saif had a long-standing rivalry with two men, Riyaz and Hashmath, both members of local cow-theft gangs. The duo had earlier tipped off the police about the gang’s activities, leading to several arrests and subsequent resentment. After securing bail, the gang members allegedly began searching for Fahad and Saif to take revenge.

During this period, the deceased, Mohisin, informed Fahad and Saif that the gangs were looking for them. However, the accused later discovered that Mohisin himself had been sharing their whereabouts with the rival groups. They also suspected that he had financially supported the Adil gang, which was involved in the murder of Fahad’s cousin, Mubarak Sigar, in January 2024.

Believing Mohisin to be betraying them, Fahad and Saif conspired with their associates to kill him. On the night of October 29, around 9 p.m., three of the accused — Fahad, Sohail and Amer — went to Mohisin’s pan shop at Ghouse Nagar, called him outside, and attacked him with a sickle and knives. Mohisin sustained multiple injuries and died on the spot.