Mangaluru: History-sheeter Kalia Rafiq (35) was killed by armed miscreants during wee hours of Wednesday in Ullal. Rafiq was facing over 45 cases including murder charges against him in both Kerala and Karnataka.

It is said that at about 2 am on Wednesday, the miscreants who were in a tipper first knocked Rafiq’s car. The tipper waylaid Rafiq near Kotekar petrol bunk and when Rafiq launched an escape bid, they fired at him and then assaulted him with machetes. He was plying to Mangaluru along with four others and in the fatal attack, Rafiq cousin Zaid has sustained severe injuries of the hand.

Rafiq hailed from Uppala and had been involved in several murder, extortion and other cases. Goonda Act was invoked against him in January 2016.

The suspicion pin points at Noor Ali gang from Uppala, which has reportedly been waiting for an opportunity to settle score with Rafiq.Noor Ali’s brother Muthalib was once a close aide of Kalia. However, when Muthalib broke out of the gang, Kalia got him killed in 2013. To avenge his brother’s murder, Noor Ali had attempted to kill Kalia couple of months ago, but that attempt met failure. Hence it is believed that Noor Ali’s meticulous planning may have been successful this time.