Underworld don claims responsibility for attack on realtors’ office in Bangalore

The gunning down of two persons in a real estate firm in Bangalore on Thursday by unidentified persons has taken a new twist with underworld don Ravi Pujari claiming responsibility for the attack.

Pujari, who called up media offices from an international number, said he had ordered the attack on the real estate office belonging to former Congress corporator Samiulla as the latter was involved with his rival Dawood Ibrahim.

Samiulla’s aide Ravi, 32, and typist Shylaja, 42, were shot dead in broad daylight by an unidentified gun man, wearing a full-masked helmet, who barged into the Samiulla’s office in Tilak Nagar in Bangalore and opened fire.

The gunman first shot Ravi in the head, killing him on the spot. When the lady typist seated in the other corner of the office stood up and raised an alarm, the gunman trained his gun on her and fired at her. She received bullet injuries in the abdomen and chest. A profusely bleeding Shylaja was rushed a private nursing home, where she succumbed to the injuries.

After firing at Ravi and Shylaja, the gunman raced out of the office and escaped on a motorcycle with an accomplice, who was waiting for him.

Samiulla, who was away on a site inspection at that time, was informed about the incident on his mobile. Though Samiulla claimed that he has no enemies, the Bangalore police are inquiring into his land dealings.

The police are also questioning him about his rivals and drawing up a list of his perceived enemies. The Central Crime Branch of Bangalore Police believe that Samiulla had been receiving threats from extortionists in the past few months, but had not informed the police.

Meanwhile, Kannada news television channel Eenadu TV claimed yesterday that Ravi Pujari called up their office to claim responsibility for the attack and vowed to eliminate associates of Dawood Ibrahim and Chota Shakeel.

The Times of India too claimed that their Mumbai office received a call from a person claiming to be Ravi Pujari. The person said he had ordered his boys to attack Samiulla’s office. “Samiulla is Dawood’s man, who is investing the latter’s money in Bangalore’s real estate market. I will eliminate whoever is associated with Dawood”, the caller is said to have told.