The Banashankari police were caught napping while Afsar Khan alias Aafi, the prime accused in councillor Diwan Ali’s murder, put up a grand show to celebrate his release from jail in Yarab Nagar on Thursday.
The police, who were clueless about the bash, were bestirred into action only after a four full hours of jubilation on the streets, when alarmed residents called them. They then bundled up Aafi and some fellow revellers.
This, during the Crime Prevention Month announced by the Police Commissioner, directing jurisdictional stations to pull up their socks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Aafi, an engineering dropout, was arrested on January 20, 2011, on charges of gunning down Diwan Ali in broad daylight. “He was released a few days ago on bail and wanted to announce his return to the area with a bang and hence the gala event,” said a police officer.
Accompanied by some 300 associates in cars and motorcycles, a garlanded Aafi announced his grand entrance into the neighbourhood in an open car adorned with flowers. Provocatively, the procession, during which crackers were burst and sweets distributed, passed in front of Diwan Ali’s residence around noon where Aafi paused to announced he was “now the don of the area”.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Banashankari police eventually arrived at Yarab Nagar, which comes under sensitive area category as per police records.
They bundled Aafi and a few belligerent flunkeys into their van, pulling the plug on the party.
The police said they seized some lethal weapons from the vehicles.
Senior police officers refused to comment.
Aafi allegedly shot dead Diwan Ali after the latter humiliated and beat up his father after a row. Aafi had taken the help of another career criminal, Asghar, who had an axe to grind with the councillor.