Kasargod, Oct 26, 2013 : A real estate businessman was brutally murdered by some unidentified assailants near the Uppala Mannanguli Stadium on the night of October 24, Thursday. The deceased is Muttalib Rafique (38) who hailed from the same area.
The murder took place when Rafique was on way to his apartment at around 10.30 pm. It is learnt, Rafique lost control over his car which hit a compound wall after the assailants tried to intercept it and fire at the car.
The suspicion is that the assailants who then entered the car, killed him inside before fleeing even as neighbours rushed to the spot hearing the screams. A seriously injured Rafique though was taken to a hospital in Mangalore, he died on way. One Sharief who had accompanied Rafique to the hospital, said that Rafique revealed the names of Khaliya Rafique and three others as the killers, before breathing his last.
There is a suspicion that the assailants have fled to Karnataka. Meanwhile, police have reportedly taken a few into custody on the charges of abetting the killers. Police said though the deceased was wanted in four cases of clashes, there was no case against him since the past two years. He had business in the Gulf and was also a real estate broker.
Sources revealed that Muttalib had opposed Khaliya Rafique who was reportedly intercepting chicken laden lorries and fleecing the drivers. This might have also led to the killing, said sources.