Two police teams formed to trace history-sheeter who fired at GP member

BENGALURU: The police have formed two teams to track down the history-sheeter, who managed to escape after firing a Kanegowdanahalli gram panchayat member Saleem, in Islamapura of Nelamangala taluk.

The accused Mubarak fired at Saleem late at night when the latter was returning home after prayers. Saleem was shot while talking at a shop and sustained serious injuries in his hand. He is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Nelamangala.

Mubarak had previously been involved in the murder of a Ramanagara corporator and was recently released on parole. The incident is under investigation by the Nelamangala Rural police, and they collected CCTV footage from nearby shops to aid their probe.

Saleem’s relative Firdous has alleged that the attack was politically motivated. “It is a politically motivated act. Saleem was sitting in front of a shop around 6 pm after finishing his namaz when someone came in a vehicle and fired at him. The attacker claimed to be from Mubarak Pasha’s group before fleeing the scene. We don’t know who they are”, Firdous said.

The police have shifted the injured Saleem to a Bengaluru hospital under tight security due to the tense atmosphere following the incident. Meanwhile, locals are worried about the possibility of rowdyism resurfacing in Nelamangala.