Dawood’s brother Iqbal Kaskar shot at, escapes unhurt

Agencies

Mumbai, 18 May 2011:  In a sudden attack near Mumbai’s famous JJ Hospital on Tuesday night, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, Iqbal Kaskar, was targeted.

While Kaskar escaped, his bodyguard Arif Abu Bakar was killed. Two people have been arrested.

"Two men came on a bike and fled after opening fire. A bullet hit Iqbal Kaskar’s bodyguard, Arif bhai," said an eyewitness.

"The public caught them because their bike slipped. The public then surrounded them," said another eyewitness.

Sources have told NDTV that preliminary investigations suggest Chhota Rajan gang is behind the attack. The two men arrested by the Mumbai police have told investigators that they were hired as shooters by a Chhota Rajan gang member in Mumbai.
 
Kaskar is said to have a limited role in the Dawood gang but the police suspect gang rivalry is behind the attack. This is the second attempt on Kaskar’s life. He was attacked by a rival gang way back in 1986.

Though Kaskar downplayed his Dawood connection, he was earlier linked to a murder case, and then charged in the infamous Sara-Sahara case under MCOCA. He was accused of grabbing land for an illegal shopping mall allegedly owned by Dawood.

Kaskar was acquitted in 2007 for lack of evidence - the only member of the Dawood family to be tried in an Indian court.

"We have recovered three weapons, some live ammunition and cartridges. We have apprehended two people," said Anil Kumbhare, DCP.

Dawood may have fled India before the Mumbai serial blasts, but is said to own substantial property in Central Mumbai. And the shooting is a reminder of his family connections in the city.

Besides Kaskar, Dawood’s sister Haseena Parkar and her family continue to live here.