Mastermind of Karkardooma court firing arrested

Crime Branch has arrested Mohammad Azim Ahmed who had allegedly plotted Karkardooma court shootout last year in which a Delhi Police personnel was killed while three others including his adversary and under-trial prisoner sustained grievous injuries, police said on Monday. 

Azim (29) was arrested by a team of Crime Branch on October 20 on the basis of an input that he was moving towards Shradhanand Marg (GB Road) from Farash Khana, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said.

One semi-automatic pistol and three live cartridges, including one from the chamber of the pistol, was recovered from his possession, they said. 

Later, his associate Naazim was arrested on the basis of information provided by Azim, he said. 

Azim was allegedly the mastermind behind the shootout inside Karkardooma court on December 23 last year. Indiscriminate firing aiming an under-trial prisoner in the police custody took place inside the court premises resulting in the death of Head Constable Ram Kumar. 

Three persons were seriously injured in the firing by four juveniles who were caught on the spot. Later on, five other persons were arrested in this connection but the main conspirator Azim was absconding. 

Azim also revealed that he worked with Naasir gang and a conspiracy was hatched to eliminate their rival Irfan who ran a gang in Seelampur area. He along with his gang members Jamal, Asim and Shahrukh arranged weapons and recruited the four minors and trained them in firing in fields of Uttar Pradesh. 

He had also carefully examined the entry and exit points at Karkardooma court premises and was present during the shootout along with his associates.  Azim was also allegedly involved in murder of a trader in Seelampur area in May and a reward of Rs 50,000 was announced on his arrest in the case, the officer said. 

Police managed to unearth Azim’s involvement in murder of Rubina who was girlfriend of his gang member Naazim. 

In October, 2012, Naazim took her to Amroha on the pretext of attending a marriage ceremony and strangulated her with the help of Azim and dumped the body in bushes after disfiguring its face with acid, he said.