Contract killer held in Delhi

A 33-year-old contract killer involved in over two dozen cases of murder, robbery and extortion was arrested here early on Monday, police said.

The arrest was made around 2 a.m when Abdul Munnar, a native of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, was heading to Okhla with an accomplice.

"We were looking for Munnar for the last few days. We received a tip that he would come to Moolchand (area). We laid a trap after barricading all major roads," a police officer said.

When Munnar and his accomplice neared the Lady Sri Ram College on a motorcycle, police teams asked them to stop, but they tried to escape.

"Our men chased them. The accomplice fired at the police. However, the police officers were able to overpower Munnar. But his accomplice managed to escape. A pistol and three cartridges were recovered from Munnar," Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya said.

Munnar is an associate of notorious Uttar Pradesh-based gangsters Shaukat Pasha and Satya Prakash. He was also wanted in sensational Samajwadi Party leader Md. Zaid murder case of Lucknow, the officer added.

Munnar told the police that he had taken a "contract" to kill his friend Md. Zaki in Delhi's Okhla area.

On Thursday night, he shot Zaki in his leg near Okhla Mandi Road as he had received only Rs 50,000 as advance payment for executing the job out of Rs 5 lakh offered by Zaki's wife. He was waiting for full payment to eliminate him, Baaniya added.

"During interrogation, Munnar disclosed that Zaki's wife gave him contract to kill her husband as the couple has a matrimonial dispute. She wanted to leave Zaki but he was not ready," he said.

"In fact, the woman wanted to settle in Dubai after marrying one of her 'Facebook' friends.

"Munnar did not trust her and wanted full payment in advance as she was planning to flee to Dubai. He shot Zaki in his leg to win her trust that he can actually kill him once paid the entire amount," the officer added.

--IANS

sp/nir