Battle of supremacy is said to be the reason behind violence at Sirat Basti in Neori Village, some 20 km from here, which erupted late in the evening on Monday where several houses along with some motorbikes were set ablaze by the mob following murder of a brick kiln owner Nasim Ansari.
According to police, at least three FIRs will be registered in the case naming three persons as accused along with unidentified people.
"The situation now is completely under control.....three FIRs are being registered from both sides making three persons - Zakir Ansari, Sajju Khan and Karri Moin, accused in the case," said City SP Kishore Kaushal. One FIR will be lodged in the murder case, another in the arson and loot case and the third FIR will be lodged on the basis of the statement recorded by the Mesra OP in-charge, added the City SP.
"One more FIR is likely to be lodged from the side of the people whose houses have been set ablaze, once they return to their homes," added Kaushal.
According to Kaushal, prima facie it appears to be a result of battle of supremacy between the two, Nasim Ansari and Md Zakir, where Zakir being an established land broker could not tolerate Nasim emerging as another budding broker in the area.
"Zakir, being an established land broker for several years, has settled most of the people in his locality while Nasim after entering into the business very recently was also doing well. Zakir could not digest another broker emerging in his locality which might affect his business in the long run…..hence he decided to kill him," the City SP said.
Kaushal further added that it was a pre-planned murder as Nasim had been called by somebody over phone very politely after the Iftaar party for a meeting to settle a land dispute. When Ansari, along with his aide Rajab was seated comfortably, he was allegedly hacked to death by a sharp weapon.
Rajab somehow saved his life by running away from the spot and informed others about it in his locality.
The irate mob that gathered after the incident immediately attacked Sirat Basti searching for Zakir, and gutted at least a dozen houses in the fire and set ablaze several motorbikes parked on the roadside.
Immediately, the police was called in by Zakir begging for his life but the mob, did not allow police to enter the basti and attacked it injuring Mesra OP in-charge Anand Kishore. The mob also looted his mobile phone. Several media persons were also beaten up by the mob.
At around 10 pm the City SP reached the spot and succeeded in entering the basti along with the force and put the situation under control. He also caught hold of three persons - Ismael, Manzar and Anzar, allegedly, being beaten up by the mob in the mosque for supporting Zakir in the murder.
As of now, the situation according to the Police was completely under control and people responsible for the violence are being identified.
"The situation is normal……. everything is under control…. forces have been deployed and no arrest has been made so far. It seems to be a result of sudden rise due to the murder of a businessman but certainly there had been some inside-outside feeling among the people resulting in such an intense violence between the two groups," said SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi.
Neori itself is divided into groups, one - who are the original residents of the village and have been living here for several years and secondly, who migrated from Assam and are settled recently in the village in Sirat Nagar locality. Zakir also used to live in Assam earlier, who, after settling here also helped several others settle by providing land to them.