The family, which lives in Zakir Nagar in South Delhi, said Naushad has given a true account of how the Toyota Qualis he was driving was carjacked by four persons, two of whom were killed in the encounter with the police. The other two accused managed to escape.

“We are concerned that the two accused who escaped could become a major threat for Naushad if his photo and identity are disclosed,” Abdul Kalam, Naushad’s brother, said while refusing to give a photo of his brother.

Naushad, who was allegedly hurt when the accused snatched the Qualis he was driving on Tuesday night, lives in Zakir Nagar with his brother, sister and mother. They learnt about him being injured and the subsequent encounter after they saw the news on TV.

They immediately went to visit Naushad in Sahibabad on Wednesday and met him on Thursday as well. He has not come home yet because he is called by the police to testify very often. “He will come back home tomorrow,” Kalam said.

Giving Naushad’s version of the incident, Kalam said his brother was returning from Saharanpur after dropping one of their sisters when the four accused stopped his Toyota Qualis, overpowered him and drove away after dropping him off near a river.

“My brother has cut marks behind his ears and on his hands,” Kalam said. The use of a knife by the accused when they had guns has puzzled the police. Commenting on this, Naushad’s elder sister said, “I am sure the four accused were only trying to snatch the vehicle and their motive was not to kill him.”

When asked as to why an entire mob retaliated to the killings, she said, “So many cases of fake encounters keep coming up that the public have no faith in the police. That may have led to the violence.”

Naushad used to have his own mechanic shop in Zakir Nagar earlier but for the past few months, he has been working as a part-time driver.

Encounters in the past 72 days
December 22
Two men, identified as Niraj Gupta of Haldwani and Pawan Kumar, alias Goldy, of Almora in Uttarakhand, suspected of being involved in a robbery at ICICI Bank, are shot dead in an encounter near Kanawni bridge in Indirapuram

January 14
The Ghaziabad police guns down Vatan Dauralia, a wanted criminal

January 18
Sanjeev, alias Heera Thakur, a wanted criminal of Bihar is shot dead

January 27
The Ghaziabad police kill Mohammed Shamshad, wanted in 19 cases of robbery and other crimes across UP, near Vijay Nagar