Don Chhota Shakeel’s aide out to ‘kill’ Canadian writer Tarek Fatah arrested
Police said Naseem, 28, was on the run since June when their Special Cell booked him and one Junaid Chaudhary for hatching a conspiracy to eliminate Fatah.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested a man who they said was a “sharpshooter and a close aide of gangster Chhota Shakeel” and was allegedly involved in the foiled conspiracy to kill Pakistani-Canadian writer Tarek Fatah.
Police said Naseem, 28, was on the run since June when their Special Cell booked him and one Junaid Chaudhary for hatching a conspiracy to eliminate Fatah.
Junaid was arrested June while Naseem was arrested on Tuesday evening from Jafrabad area in northeast Delhi.
Following his arrest, Naseem reportedly told the police that he had two new killing assignments, including one from Chhota Shakeel, but was caught before he could execute either of them. Chotta Shakeel wanted him to kill a person living in Dwarka. “This person had insulted a religious book, the video of which went viral on the internet,” said an official.
Police said Naseem was also hired by jailed UP gangster Munna Singh to kill some influential person in Andhra Pradesh. “He was yet to get the details about the target,” said another police officer.
He also told police that Shakeel had spoken to him twice after hiring him for the assassination attempt on the writer, said DCP north east AK Singla.
“They talked at least on phone nearly seven months ago. Shakeel promised him a good amount of money for the work. He also guided him about the travel plans of Fatah and told him to target the writer when he was in Delhi,” said Singla.
Singla, however, clarified that no money had ever been transferred to Naseem from Shakeel.
“Shakeel assured him that money would be no object, if he would kill Fatah. But, no figure was discussed. We are verifying his claims,” said Singla.
After his arrest in the same case, Junaid had told Special Cell that he had received Rs. 1.5 lakh in four instalments through hawala and money transfer from Shakeel.
“Since Junaid’s arrest, efforts were on to arrest Naseem and a cash reward of Rs. 50,000 was declared on his arrest. Shakeel was in touch with Junaid and Naseem to give him directions about eliminating the writer,” said Singla.
He has committed murders and robberies in the past.
Police recovered Rs. 1.98 lakh in cash and one sophisticated pistol and four live cartridges from Naseem. The money seized was a part of the sum he recently robbed from someone.
Singla said Naseem’s family lives in Mustafabad area of northeast Delhi and he started of by selling undergarments before taking to crime.
“Later, he came in contact with local criminals and murdered one Shaheed. He also got involved with gangs of robbers and came in contact with Chota Shakeel through Junaid,” said Singla.