DU student held for Mahal’s father’s death

A 22-year-old Delhi University student was arrested on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the murder of jailed gangster Manjeet Mahal’s father Shri Krishan, who was gunned down at Mitraon village in southwest Delhi in January.

The arrested man, identified as Deepak Dhankar alias Mandu, is a member of Mahal’s rival Nandu gang, which is led by brothers Kapil and Jyoti Sangwan, who are also in jail for the past few months.

Mandu is the fourth person to be arrested in connection with Krishan’s murder. A juvenile, who has cases of robbery and attempt to murder registered against him, was the first one to be apprehended in the case in February. Three other accused, Krishan alias Bhalu, Anil Sharma, and Deepak Maan, were held along with Pankaj Dagar and Deepak Sharma following a brief gun battle they had with the special cell team on March 11.

Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, deputy commissioner of police (special cell), said that Mandu was arrested on Tuesday from PVR, Vikaspuri. Mandu is a third-year DU student pursuing his graduation through correspondence.

“His father used to run a dairy in Najafgarh. About a year back, Mandu came in contact with Krishan (one of those arrested in connection with the murder). He joined the gang and helped the gangsters in their criminal activities,” the DCP said.

Mandu doesn’t have any previous criminal involvement. As soon as his family came to know about his involvement in the murder, they sold off their buffaloes and shifted to some unknown place fearing that they might be killed by members of the rival gang, Yadav said.