Mumbai, (The Hindu): A history sheeter, recently released from prison, was hacked to death, allegedly by members of a rival gang, in broad daylight in Dhule on Tuesday morning. A video of the incident, which was captured on a CCTV cameras nearby, went viral on social media on Thursday.

According to the Dhule police, the murder occurred at around 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday when Rafiquddin Sheikh (35) was having tea at Gopal Tea Stall on Parola Road in Dhule. “Sheikh has over 30 cases of extortion and assault against him. The exact reason for his murder is being ascertained,” said Dhule Superintendent of Police M. Ramkumar.

The CCTV footage shows the accused, 11 to 12 in number, armed with swords barging into the tea stall and dragging Sheikh out onto the road. They are then seen attacking him with swords over 20 times before fleeing the scene. The entire assault lasted for around a minute.

Police officers said the incident was reported and relayed within minutes to the Dhule City police station, under whose jurisdiction the area falls. Sheikh was rushed to a government hospital in Dhule where he was declared dead before admission, and the police, after viewing CCTV footage, and recording statements of eye-witnesses, registered a case of murder.

“Based on the CCTV footage, we have identified five of the accused as history sheeters from a local gang and are working on identifying the others. Sheikh led a gang of his own and there was a constant fight for supremacy between the two gangs and the murder,” said Police Inspector Anil Vadnere, Dhule City police station. Mr. Vadnere added that multiple teams had been sent out to various locations to try and apprehend the accused.