Homicide detectives have launched a fresh appeal in the murder of Forest Gate hoteliers Amarjit Singh and his nephew Rajinder who were gun-downed with a machine pistol.

Police pursued one of the killers, Mohammed Ayub Khan, to Pakistan after he fled the country for eight years.

At Woolwich Crown Court earlier this month (December) he was jailed for life after being convicted of the double murder at the rear of the Forest View Hotel on August 29, 2003 after what is believed was a row over parking.

Detective Inspector Yeats has appealed for anyone with information on the two outstanding suspects or the murder weapon to come forward.

He said: “We are still seeking two casually dressed Asian men wearing hooded tops in their late teens or early 20’s. They ran away from the scene during the busy period after Friday prayers and turned right into Norwich Road, crossed Romford Road and continued south in Margery Park Road where they may have got into a parked vehicle.

Khan is said to have blocked Atherton Mews with his vehicle whilst attending a nearby Mosque. Having been unable to drive their van down to the back of the hotel the victims parked across the Mews blocking Khan’s vehicle in.

The men became engaged in a heated argument before Khan left in his vehicle. He returned with two other men and began to damage the hotel van.

At around 2.20pm the victims ran out into to confront the suspects. One of the men was then seen to take a Mach 10 machine pistol out of a bag and fired 10 rounds killing them both.

The machine pistol is yet to be recovered.

Anyone who can assist should call the incident room on (020) 8345 1570; if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Khan, 28, of no fixed abode was found guilty of shooting Amarjit, 52, and Rajinder Singh, 35, in Atherton Mews and ordered he serve a minimum of 26 years in prison.

Detective Inspector Yeats of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said:

“Amarjit and Rajinder and their families were highly respected members of the community. They were hard working hoteliers and property developers who had been pro-active in trying to improve community life in Forest Gate by working with the local authority and community groups.

“They were callously murdered in the most appalling way with the use of extreme violence beyond any comprehension.”