A murder accused who was released on bail a few days ago narrowly escaped an attempt on his life, thanks to his father’s quick wits, in Devarajeevana (DJ) Halli late on Saturday night.

Syed Musheer and three associates had been arrested by DJ Halli police in connection with the murder of Arif last September. According to police, Arif was hacked to death by Musheer and his aides, Nadeem, Syed Irfan and Shetty. All four men were released days ago.

On Saturday, a gang of five unidentified men went into the narrow bylane in Sampangi Ramaiah Block, DJ Halli, where Musheer lives. Confused by the maze of houses, the men asked for directions to Musheer’s house from an elderly man in the street. The man, Syed Hussain, happened to be Musheer’s father.

Hussein directed them to a neighbour’s home, returned to his own house and barricaded the front door. He then told his son to hide. Furious that they had not found Musheer, the gang smashed the windows of six autorickshaws and a car parked nearby. DJ Halli police have registered a case. They suspect that the attackers may be associates of Arif.