Accused on bail attempts to kill eye-witness ahead of court testimony

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: In a chilling display of impunity, criminals in the city continue to operate without fear of the law, despite a strong police presence.

The recent attack on an eyewitness to a murder, scheduled to testify in court, underscores the alarming situation. Syed Saif, a 30-year-old tailor residing in Rashad Nagar on Govindpura Main Road, is currently fighting for his life at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru after a brutal attack.

Saif, who lives with his wife and two daughters, had witnessed a murder in July 2021, where a gang, led by individuals named Tabrez and Sameer, killed Asgar from KG Halli due to personal disputes.

Approximately seven to eight people were present at the crime scene, and Saif was one of the witnesses who came forward to provide statements to the police during the investigation.

This cooperation led to the arrest of five suspects by the KG Halli police. However, the accused were recently released on bail, and they allegedly began harassing Saif, who was slated to testify against them in court.

Despite these threats, Saif remained resolute in his decision to record his statements. However, the situation took a violent turn on a fateful Saturday night.

While riding with a friend towards Kammanahalli Main Road for a simple tea outing, unknown miscreants rammed their two-wheeler with a car, brutally ran over Saif's leg, and launched a vicious attack on him with swords and lethal weapons.

Saif's friend initially fled the scene in fear but returned to rush him to a hospital. Syed Adnan, Saif's brother, filed a complaint with the Banaswadi police, resulting in the booking of several individuals, including the accused, on attempted murder charges.

Speaking to News Trail, Syed Adnan revealed that the deceased, Syed Asgar, was a childhood friend.

"My brother Saif, along with some other friends, were witnesses in the case, and our friends were also attacked. An FIR has been filed at the Govindapura police station. My brother was attacked near the Hennur bridge, and they came in a black Honda City car, wielding swords. Doctors have described my brother's condition as critical," said Syed Adnan.