Contract killer wanted in SP leader's killing arrested

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 here, the police said today.
Mannan alias Khalifa was arrested after a tip-off on the intervening night of November 26 and 27, they said.
He was wanted in connection with the killing of Samajwadi Party leader and property dealer Mohd Zaid Shakeel last year in Lucknow. UP police had also offered a reward of Rs 12,000 for information leading to Mannan's arrest, the police said.
On November 23, a shootout took place in Okhla Mandi, in which a man named Mohd Zaki was shot in the leg. During investigation, Mannan's involvement in the shootout came to light.

In the wee hours of this morning, the police learnt that Mannan 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 LSR College and vehicle checking was started, the police said.

At about 2"05 AM, Manan was seen riding a motorcycle from Moolchand Metro Station towards LSR College.
The staff deployed at the picket blocked the road by putting barricades in front of the motorcycle and asked the rider to stop.
The motorcycle rider speeded up the two-wheeler and hit the police barricades and tried to run away, the police said.

The accused ended up colliding with the barricade, fell off and pointed a pistol towards a sub-inspector but was overpowered and arrested, they said.
The pistol seized from him had three live cartridges.
On being interrogated, Mannan revealed that during his stay in Tihar Jail, he came in contact with Zaki and both became good friends, said Romil Baaniya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast).
After their release from jail, he started visiting Zaki's home frequently, where he came in contact with Zaki's wife Ayesha. Ayesha used to help Mannan financially, said the officer.
Mannan learnt that Ayesha and Zaki were having matrimonial dispute.

Ayesha also had a Facebook friend Mujubbuddin, who is from Hyderabad, Telangana, and is settled in Dubai.
Ayesha wanted to leave Zaki and marry Mujubbuddin, the police said. She told Mannan that Mujubbuddin had come to Delhi and they got married, they said.
Ayesha and her brother Sarfaraz offered Mannan Rs five lakh to get Zaki killed. They even gave him Rs 50,000 as an advance payment.
After this, Mannan called his associate Izhar and made a plan to kill Zaki. But since Mannan had not got the full payment, he shot Zaki in the leg, the police said.