Arrested shooter says Maaz a victim of mistaken identity

LUCKNOW: Class 8 boy Maaz (13), shot dead at his relative’s house in Indiranagar here on May 29, was the victim of a mistaken identity. After his arrest in Mau, shooter Ajeet Yadav alias Bunty on Saturday revealed his target was one of the two brothers of untraceable police inspector Sanjai Rai’s ladylove.

Rai allegedly masterminded the killing merely to implicate one Aqmal, who was getting uncomfortably close to the woman he loved. Maaz, the cousin of Rai’s ladylove, stayed with the woman’s family.

Rai was sacked from the UP police on July 9 as he is on the run since his name cropped up in the case after arrest of his domestic help and two hired shooters on June 9. So far, six persons, including Rai’s domestic help, four hired shooters and the sacked policeman’s elder brother Ajai Rai have been arrested.

Bunty was arrested from his hideout in eastern UP on Friday night. The city police are bringing him to Lucknow after procuring his transit remand from a court. The police have also recovered a pistol from his possession.