Bael belonged to Pakmodia St area, not suburbs, say locals

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Iqbal Kaskar’s bodyguard Arif Abu Bakr Sayyed, aka Bael, was a regular visitor to Kaskar’s Pakmodia Street residence and had only recently shifted to Jogeshwari. Many people in the crowded Pakmodia Street neighbourhood did not even know that he had shifted somewhere else, police officials said on Thursday while trying to explain why Bael’s assailants chose Pakmodia Street and not his new Jogeshwari residence to gun him down.

The investigation in the case is following leads to establish whether the real target was Kaskar, younger brother of don Dawood Ibrahim, but people close to Bael dismiss this theory. “Bael would spend most of the time roaming around with Iqbal bhai. He had been living in Nagpada and Pakmodia Street for decades and had only recently shifted to the suburbs after his family property was divided between the siblings,” said Bael’s friend. The shooters would not have known his exact routine in Jogeshwari. “He would not go home for several days and would live at Mahajabeen building, where Kaskar stays,” he added.

The assailants may have wanted to ensure they got Bael. “That was why three imported weapons were used to kill someone who was just a bodyguard and driver,” a police official said. “Country-made firearms often get stuck,” he added. Witnesses said Kaskar’s other bodyguard, Anwar, was standing near the building and ran towards the killers once the shooting began. They were trying to preempt any attempt on Kaskar’s life. “The two shooters might have earlier wanted to enter the building, but after seeing Anwar they preferred fleeing from there,” one of the witnesses to the killing said.


The Times of India, May 20, 2011