A violent gang conflict resulted in the tragic death of Amit Verma, a 22-year-old youth, late Saturday night in the Chola Mandir area. The incident occurred during a birthday celebration when six armed assailants indiscriminately opened fire on a group of friends, allegedly targeting a local miscreant, Raja Khatik.
According to the police, the attack was orchestrated by notorious gangster Naseem Banne Khan, a self-proclaimed associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Naseem, along with his five accomplices, arrived on two bikes and fired at least six rounds, two of which struck Amit—one in the head and another in the stomach, killing him on the spot. The assailants fled the scene, waving pistols, which caused panic in the nearby Leeladhar Colony.
TI Suresh Chandra Nagar confirmed that Raja Khatik was the intended target, as he and Amit were present together at the time of the shooting. "Naseem and Raja have had an ongoing rivalry stemming from a transaction dispute. The attackers came with the intent to kill Raja, but tragically, Amit was fatally shot instead," he said.
Amit Verma, a resident of Barkhedi Phatak, worked at a garments shop and had attended the birthday celebration of his friend, Ashu Khatik, in Liladhar Colony. After the cake-cutting, the group was chatting on the road when the attack occurred. Atul Verma, Amit's brother, described how the assailants fired multiple shots in quick succession. "My brother was just standing and talking when they opened fire. They didn’t care who got hit," he said.
Following the murder, Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for information leading to the arrest of Naseem Banne Khan and his accomplices. Multiple police teams have been deployed across districts to locate and apprehend the suspects.
This is not the first time Naseem Banne Khan has been involved in violent crime. In December 2023, he and his gang attacked a businessman, Nawaz Riyaz, in Bhopal's Budhwara area following a failed extortion attempt. The gang shot Riyaz and attacked him with a sword, having earlier sent threatening messages demanding Rs 10 lakh. Naseem, who had gone into hiding, later released a video threatening a police inspector. He was eventually captured after a police encounter in which he sustained a bullet injury to his leg.
Originally from Shajapur district, Naseem Banne Khan has an extensive criminal record with 46 cases registered against him, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion, and theft. He remains one of the most wanted criminals in Madhya Pradesh, with a collective reward of Rs 40,000 declared by the Sehore and Bhopal police.
Known for flaunting firearms on social media and boasting of his ties to Lawrence Bishnoi, Naseem has become a symbol of unchecked gang violence in the region.
The murder of Amit Verma highlights the growing menace of gang culture and organized crime in Bhopal, with citizens calling for swift action against gangsters and stricter law enforcement to ensure safety in public spaces.