Dad’s doorstep killing: two held
Reporter: Janice Barker
Date published: 21 September 2009
Community In shock as gun horror returns to Oldham streets
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a young Glodwick father of two was shot when gunmen lured him into opening his front door.
Amran Khan (29), known as Manny, heard someone attacking a Honda Accord outside his bungalow in Nugget Street as he put his daughters, aged four and one to bed, and went to open his front door.
A gunman in a dark car fired three shots. One hit Amran in the chest and he died a short time later. His wife Shamila was left screaming hysterically for help. Two men were arrested yesterday and are in police custody.
Immediately after the shooting, next-door neighbours Imad Ahmed and his wife Rahina Begum rushed to Amran’s aid, but he died in the early hours of Saturday morning in the Royal Oldham Hospital.
The local community, which was preparing to celebrate the festival of Eid at the end of Ramadan, was in shock at the second fatal shooting in Oldham in two months.
High-profile police and PCSO patrols are being carried out in the area and Chief Supt Caroline Ball, the head of Oldham Police, has sent leaflets around the local community, spoken to community leaders, and is urging anyone with information about the shooting or the car to some forward.
Police are keeping an open mind about whether the murder, late on Friday night, is gang or drug related, or linked to the death of Junaid Khan, from Werneth, who was shot on the car park of the Block Lane surgery in Chadderton, in July.
The latest murder hunt is being led by Det Supt Mary Doyle, of the serious crime division. Police and forensic teams have been working at the smart bungalow opposite the Glodwick Health Centre all weekend and officers removed a silver Honda Accord from the street on Saturday afternoon on the back of a large lorry.
The death is the latest tragedy for Amran Khan’s widowed mother, who lives in near-by Brompton Street. She lost another son, Arfan, after a heart attack recently, and has a younger son Gulfran who has been in hospital with a serious illness.
Mourners gathered to support her on Saturday, and men fell into each others arms weeping.
Friends said Amran was a former Hathershaw School pupil, a good footballer, fit and very athletic, whose parents used to live on Park Road.
One said: “Someone smashed his wife’s car window, and he went outside to see what was happening when he was shot.”
Imad Ahmed and his wife said they had become good friends to the murdered man and his family in the four years they had been neighbours.
They heard a bang late on Friday and looked outside, then minutes later there were shots.
Mr Ahmed added: “As I reached the door I heard his wife screaming and shouting for help. I saw a dark or black-coloured car which screeched off and went towards Mumps.”
Mrs Begum said: “Shamila was carrying the baby and the other daughter was crying. Manny had fallen behind the front door and I managed to squeeze in and stayed with her the whole time. He was alive and I put him in the recovery position, but it seemed to take the ambulance 45 minutes from when I phoned to get to him.
“The police had to come from Manchester, a special squad, and everything was delayed and the ambulance couldn’t come. We just wish we had taken him to hospital ourselves.”
A North West Ambulance spokeswomen said Mr Khan was in hospital 45 within minutes of the first call to them, but said the crew had to wait for police permission that it was safe to approach the bungalow.
She added: “We got the call at 10.32 pm, we were at a rendezvous point with police in six minutes, left at 11.07 and were at the hospital by 11. 15.
“It does seem a long time if people are waiting, but crews have to get permission from police when there is a shooting or stabbing.”
Chief Supt Ball said family liaison officers are working with Amran’s widow and his relatives, and she added: “We have a great relationship with the people in the (Glodwick) area, and we are going into the areas to reassure them, the PCs and PCSOs are talking to local people, and we will bring the mobile police station in
“We are keeping an open mind on whether this is gang or drug related, or there is any connection with the murder of Junaid Khan.”
Ward Councillor Mohammed Masud said there had been other four non fatal shootings in the Glodwick area in the past two years. They were in in Savoy Street, Southhill Street, Bolton Street and Orme Street and added: “I have been very vocal about this. Unfortunately this latest shooting has resulted in a fatality.
“I will be visiting the family to offer my condolences and any support I can give. It is a tragedy.”
Oldham Councillor Asaf Ali, who also lives in Brompton Street, said he recalled Manny as a very bright lad and added: “He was well-known in the community and worked as a security guard for a while. He would always speak and say hello when he went past to his mum’s.
“This is scary. We should be safe in our own homes.”
