Wrestling champ held for ‘murder’

An interstate wrestling champion, allegedly a sharpshooter of the notorious Krishan Pehlwan gang, was arrested on Sunday for his alleged involvement in murder cases in Punjab and Haryana.

An interstate wrestling champion, allegedly a sharpshooter of the notorious Krishan Pehlwan gang, was arrested on Sunday for his alleged involvement in murder cases in Punjab and Haryana.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Delhi) H.G.S. Dhaliwal said Rakesh Kumar alias Raka — a 22-year-old former interstate champion in the 84 kg freestyle — was wanted in two murder cases.

The police said Kumar was arrested on tip-off that a sharpshooter of the gang run by Phelwan, who is cooling his heels in a Rajasthan jail, would meet one of his accomplices at PVR Saket in south Delhi.

Kumar's interrogation revealed that he allegedly committed the first murder due to family enmity at his village in Rohtak, the police said.

The police said that Kumar was doing his graduation.

During his schooldays, he developed a liking for wrestling and started practising in Chattarshal Stadium from January 2003. He won a bronze medal in a senior state wrestling championship held in Delhi in 2006.

In 2007, he won a gold medal in the same championship and became a state champion.