Arms dealer jumps into drain to evade being caught by police, nabbed finally

NEW DELHI: A team of Special Cell has arrested Safiqul Sheikh (32) alias Rafiqul alias Akil, a resident of Malda, West Bengal, for running an inter-state gun racket. He was carrying a reward of Rs one lakh on his arrest from Delhi Police. Safiqul's name came to light during the interrogation of one of the accused Azimuddin arrested earlier. Azimuddin disclosed that he along with his associate Shafiqul Sheikh had come to Delhi to deliver a huge cache of illegal weapons to one of their associates.

On December 10, a secret information was received by Delhi Police that at around 7 am, the syndicate kingpin Shafiqul Sheikh would come at Khaltipur railway station in Malda district of West Bengal to fix a fresh deal with his contact. The waiting police team laid a trap near the railway station, but sensing the presence of police, the accused fled. SI Ravi and other staff chased him for about two kilometres.

"In order to dodge the police party, Shafiqul jumped into a drain, but constable Manjeet courageously followed him into the drain and apprehended him. Even after being apprehended by a police party, Shafiqul tried to escape by creating a ruckus and had a scuffle with the police staff," said DCP Special Cell Sanjeev Kumar.

Shafiqul disclosed that he used to purchase arms from a person called Kallu in Munger. Shafiqul used to supply the consignment to his contacts in Delhi, UP and Haryana, with the help of his carriers. During sustained interrogation, he disclosed that he has been involved in the business for last 4-5 years. Shafiqul started as a carrier and used to bring firearms from Munger and Malda on the directions of Kallu and Sabir to supply it in Delhi, UP and Haryana.