Contract killer arrested in Delhi

An alleged contract killer, who unsuccessfully contested the 2007 UP Assembly elections, was arrested in the capital, police said on Sunday.

An alleged contract killer, who unsuccessfully contested the 2007 UP Assembly elections, was arrested in the capital, police said on Sunday.

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The arrested person identified as Shokat alias Pasha (49) is wanted in over 50 cases of murder, robbery and dacoity and carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Neeraj Thakur said.

Shokat, also declared a proclaimed offender in six cases, was caught by Delhi Police's Crime Branch yesterday from Kalindi Kunj area when he came to visit his associates.

"We had an input that he is coming to the area in the night. At around 8:00 pm, he got down from a bus and proceeded towards the parking area. Police began to close in on him. Sensing our presence, he whipped out a revolver but was overpowered," Thakur said.

After his release from jail in 2007, he contested assembly elections from Amroha constituency on the symbol of National Loktantrik Party but lost.

He allegedly entered the world of crime in the early 1980s when he had a property dispute and political rivalry with one Bhura who was the village head. As Bhura was powerful, he left the village and joined the gang of Aslam.

However, Shokat allegedly killed Bhura in 1995. In this case, the UP Police declared a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.