In a chilling case of suspected gangland revenge, two brothers from Northeast Delhi's Jafrabad area were shot dead in a hail of 35 bullets. Police investigators have revealed that the brutal killing appears to be retribution for the victims allegedly providing information to the Delhi Police Special Cell about a major arms syndicate operated by India's most-wanted arms supplier, Salim 'Pistol'.
The Brutal Attack and Suspected Mastermind
The incident occurred on December 16, 2025. Brothers Mohammad Fazeel (31) and Nadeem (33), who were allegedly associated with Pistol's network, were riding a scooter when they were ambushed. According to police sources, three men on a motorcycle, including the victims' cousin Asad Qureshi, overpowered them. The assailants reportedly fired around 48 rounds, with 35 bullets striking the two men, killing them on the spot. Investigators have identified Asad Qureshi as the alleged mastermind behind the attack.
The Informant Angle and Special Cell Questioning
The police probe has uncovered a critical lead pointing to a revenge motive. The brothers had been questioned by the Delhi Police Special Cell in August 2025 in connection with the arms supply syndicate run by Salim Ahmad, alias Salim Pistol. During this interrogation, it is believed they gave a tip-off that led to police raids targeting syndicate members. Although questioned, the brothers were not formally charged and were released.
"It is believed that Asad, along with Danish and Kabootar, killed the brothers for allegedly tipping off the Special Cell about them in connection with Salim’s syndicate," a police source stated. The source added that Asad had previously worked with the slain brothers but had a falling out over money.
Links to the Salim Pistol Syndicate and Nationwide Network
The investigation sheds light on the vast network of Salim Pistol, who was arrested near the India-Nepal border in August 2025. Described as India's top arms supplier, Pistol was notorious for trafficking high-grade foreign-made weapons like Turkish Zigana and Italian Beretta pistols to gangsters across Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. He operated from bases in Pakistan and Dubai before his capture.
His arrest was a significant win for agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had cases against him. Following his arrest, the Special Cell and Crime Branch booked him under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). He is currently incarcerated in Tihar Jail.
Police sources detailed that after facing charges for murder, robbery, and arms supply, Pistol fled to Dubai via Nepal in 2019. From there, he coordinated with syndicate members in Northeast Delhi, including one Mehfooz alias Bobby Kabootar from Jafrabad, to supply weapons to gangs linked to notorious criminals like Hashim Baba, Abdul Nasir, and Lawrence Bishnoi. Kabootar, also booked under MCOCA, remains absconding.
The police raids following the brothers' tip-off in August targeted locations in Northeast Delhi, including the home of Danish Malli, a close friend of the alleged mastermind Asad Qureshi. Danish was found to be absconding. Meanwhile, the victims, Fazeel and Nadeem, along with their two other brothers, ran a jacket manufacturing business. Police records show that Nadeem had previously been booked in a case related to illegal firearms supply in the area.
The gruesome murder underscores the violent internal dynamics within criminal syndicates and the extreme risks associated with cooperating with law enforcement, even informally. The Delhi Police continue to hunt for the remaining accused in this case.
