A daylight gun attack on an Indian-origin restaurant in Portugal has set off alarm bells among security agencies, after the attackers followed up the shooting with a chilling social media threat invoking underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's name. Within minutes of the shooting, a live video and a post claiming credit for the attack surfaced online, warning that the restaurant's owner himself would be the next target.
Gunfire in the Marcés neighbourhood
The attack took place in the Marcés area, located between Portugal's capital Lisbon and the town of Sintra. The restaurant, called Dilbag Doner Kabab, is run by an Indian-origin man identified as Pamma. Without warning, an attacker walked up to the restaurant and opened fire, unleashing round after round in front of stunned onlookers. The sudden burst of gunfire sent panic through the neighbourhood, with passersby and shopkeepers scrambling for cover as chaos briefly gripped the area. The shooter fled the scene almost immediately after the firing stopped, leaving behind a wave of fear.
Rahul RK Meena gang claims the attack
Soon after the shooting, a video of the live firing along with a post went viral on social media, in which gangster Rahul RK Meena openly claimed responsibility for the attack. The post declared that this time only the restaurant had been fired upon, but the next round would be aimed directly at the owner. The brazen nature of the claim made clear that the shooting was tied to a turf war or an extortion attempt, one the gang was not shy about owning publicly. The tone of the message suggested the attackers have little fear of the law and are using social media itself as a weapon of intimidation.
Dawood Ibrahim's name used to spread fear
To amplify the sense of terror, the gangster's post also invoked the name of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. In an aggressive tone, the message warned that if the gang ever set its sights on someone, not even Dawood Ibrahim would be able to save them. The same viral post also referenced several other names, including the Aman Sahu gang, the Sunil Meena gang and the Trishul gang, suggesting that more than one criminal outfit may be jockeying for dominance in this rivalry, and that the turf war may run deeper than a single attack.
Indian gang rivalry spills into Europe
The emergence of notorious names like Aman Sahu and Rahul Meena in connection with an attack on foreign soil has put security and intelligence agencies on alert. There is growing concern that criminal syndicates active in India are now attempting to extort Indian-origin businessmen settled in Europe, effectively exporting their domestic turf wars overseas. What was once seen as a rivalry confined largely within India appears to be extending its reach into European cities, raising fresh questions about how such networks operate across borders. So far, local police in Portugal have issued no official statement regarding the attack or the viral video claiming responsibility.
