Gunfire on Ayodhya Highway: Former Associate of Mukhtar Ansari Killed in Suspected Gang Feud
A brazen shooting on the Ayodhya highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district on Friday evening left a man with a long criminal background dead, triggering fresh speculation of rivalry within the region’s underworld networks.
Police identified the victim as 51-year-old Shoaib Kidwai, also known as Bobby, once linked to the late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari.
Attack in transit
According to Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya, Kidwai was driving back from Lucknow when motorcycle-riding attackers allegedly blocked his vehicle and fired several shots at close range.
Residents who heard the gunfire rushed toward the scene, but the assailants had already escaped. Police teams arrived shortly afterward and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Authorities have begun combing the surrounding areas and examining CCTV footage to identify those responsible.
Possible gang rivalry
Investigators say the exact motive is still unclear, though early indications point toward a settling of scores or an internal dispute among criminal groups. This angle is currently under examination.
Kidwai had a history of criminal cases — roughly a dozen in total — including murder charges and cases under the Gangsters Act.
One of the most notable was the 1998 killing of Lucknow jail superintendent R.K. Tiwari, in which he was later acquitted.
Officials added that besides his past activities, he was also involved in real estate dealings and came from a financially stable background.
The killing adds to concerns about lingering gang networks in the region, with police intensifying efforts to trace the attackers.
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