Two arrested in Mumbai for shooting Patna cinema hall owner dead

The Powai police recently arrested two people for firing four rounds at an influential cinema hall owner in Bihar, killing him.

On September 16, the two accused and eight of their accomplices hatched a plan to kill Nirbhay Singh a resident of Bihta, Patna. Huge protests erupted following the shooting as it took place just 250m from the Bihta police station.

Too evade arrest, the accused, Riku Saurabh, 23, and a man identified as Shankar, 26, came to Mumbai eight days ago, and were staying at a relative’s house at Tunga Gaav in Powai. Police said they lied to their relatives about why they came to the city, claiming it was for sightseeing purposes.

“A Bihta police team arrived in Mumbai and asked for our help. We got information about who owned the house where the two were staying, following which two teams laid a trap and nabbed the culprits,” said an officer from Powai police station, who did not wish to be identified.

A team of Patna police, under special superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, was detecting the case. Eight people have been arrested, including mastermind Akshay Kumar.

Police said Kumar had hired the shooters, but are yet to ascertain why Singh was killed.

“These goons kill people to spread terror among local businessmen and extort money from them,” said an officer, who did not wish to be identified.

The two were produced in court and were later taken to Bihta.

First Published: Oct 01, 2017 00:26 IST