Suspected contract killer arrested
He is wanted in regard with killing of SP leader, property dealer in Lucknow.
New Delhi: A 33-year-old suspected contract killer, wanted in connection with the killing of a Samajwadi Party leader and carrying a reward of Rs 12,000, was arrested in national capital on Monday.
Mannan alias Khalifa was arrested after the police received a tip-off on the intervening night of November 26 and 27, police sources said.
The criminal was wanted in connection with the killing of Samajwadi Party leader and property dealer Mohd Zaid Shakeel last year in Lucknow.
The Uttar Pradesh police had also offered a reward of Rs 12,000 for information leading to Mannan’s arrest, the police said.
On Nov. 23, a shootout took place in Okhla Mandi, in which a man named Mohd Zaki was shot in the leg. During probe, his involvement in the shootout came to light.
On early Monday, the police learnt that the accused would be coming near Moolchand Paranthawala, in Lajpat Nagar.
At about 1:45 am, a police picket was deployed at the service road, near Moolchand Metro Station towards the LSR College . It soon started checking the vehicles, the police said. At 2.05 am, Manan was seen riding a motorcycle from Moolchand Metro Station towards LSR College.
The staff deployed at the picket which had installed barricedes on the road, demanded the accused to stop. Seeing them, Mannan tried to we scaopen he tried to speed up the two-wheeler, but hit the police barricades instead and fell down, the police said. The police quickly overpowered and arrested Mannan. They also seized his pistol and three live cartridges.
During interrogation, he disclosed that he came in contact with Zaki in Tihar Jail, and both became good friends, said R. Baaniya, DCP, South-east.
After their release from jail, he visited Zaki’s home, where he came in contact with Zaki’s wife Ayesha.
Sheb told Mannan she wanted to marry Mujubbuddin and leave Zaki. She and her brother offered Mannan Rs 5 lakh to get Zaki killed. They gave him Rs 50,000 as an advance payment. When he did not get full payment, he shot Zaki in the leg, the police said.