The city police on Wednesday arrested seven persons for allegedly killing a 26-year-old fitness trainer at Tolichowki last month. The police seized three daggers, three bikes and seven mobile phones from the arrested persons Lateef and Firdous, and their accomplices Mehraj Hussain, Mir Shamroz Ali, Mohd. Saleemuddin, Syed Aijaz and Ibrahim Khan.
The police said Lateef and Firdous, both history sheeters, bore a personal grudge against the fitness trainer Mohd. Awais of Mallepally. A few months ago, Awais had brought a marriage proposal for Lateef’s sister which did not materialise. The duo entered into a heated argument over this and since then were at loggerheads.
Things reached a flashpoint in November, after Awais joined the Congress and was actively participating in the party activities in Nampally area much to the resentment of Lateef, DCP (West) V. Satyanarayana said.
On November 26, the two called up Abbas alias Fayaz, a friend of Awais over phone to discuss some issue and asked him to come to a place at Tolichowki. Fayaz and Awais and a few others reached Tolichowki where Lateef, Firdous and their five accomplices were waiting for them.
Heated arguments took place between the groups after which Lateef and his associates stabbed Awais with daggers and fled the spot, the DCP said. He died later while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
The police also launched a hunt for a few persons who helped the gang members escape after committing the murder, the DCP said.
