3 men arrested for ‘planning to kill religious leaders’
NEW DELHI: A second-hand car dealer from Afghanistan, an alleged liquor smuggler from Kerala and a welder-turned-thief from Delhi have been arrested by Delhi Police’s special cell for “planning to kill some members of a socio-religious organisation in South India”, police said Saturday. Police, however, refused to identify the socio-religious leaders or the organisation. Neither did they elaborate on the evidence they have against the men. All the police revealed was that they had a “tip-off”.
A senior investigator, on condition of anonymity, said “money” was the primary motive. The three were held between January 11 and 12, but the investigator said they haven’t been able to get the suspects to reveal who funded them or amount they were promised.
As for evidence against the three arrested men, the officer said there were “oral evidence” and statements from “certain sources” that confirm their plan.
“We have seized their mobile phones and are gathering evidence that will stand the scrutiny of the court,” he said.
Police said the 45-year-old Afghan, Wali Mohammad Saifi, and 32-year-old Delhi resident Sheikh Riyajuddin, were arrested from near Saket on January 11. The 41-year-old Kerala suspect, Muhthasim CM, was arrested the next day from Kasaragod in Kerala.
Pramod Kushwaha, DCP (special cell), said they got a tip-off on January 9 about the men plotting the murders at the behest of their “handlers based abroad” and this led to their arrests. “The two men arrested from Delhi were found carrying a pistol and three live cartridges each,” Kushwaha said.
Another officer claimed the men are “suspected” to be “connected” with Rasool Parti, an alleged associate of Gujarat gangster Abdul Latif, who reportedly worked for Dawood Ibrahim.
The officer said Parti is believed to be in Pakistan. “We are probing Parti’s connection to the arrested men, but we don’t have evidence of a direct link yet,” the officer said.
Police said Muhthasim CM was in direct touch with his “handlers”. He had allegedly gotten in touch with Saifi who was in India on a tourist visa. Together, they allegedly reached out to Riyajuddin to carry out the plot.