Court shooting probe: Juvenile ‘got weapons’ from boy he met at remand home

The gang’s leader got two country-made pistols, a revolver and another pistol from a 18-year-old boy, added the sources. Investigators also found that before carrying out the shooting, the four juveniles consumed a drug that reportedly increases focus and sharpens response, said the sources.

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According to officials, three of the juveniles were sent to correctional home, while one was sent to police remand for two days. A search is on for the weapons supplier, a resident of Jahangirpuri, said the officials.

The juvenile “contract killers” were hired to gun down Irfan when he was produced in court, said a source. They injured Irfan, but killed head constable Ram Kunwar Meena of Delhi Armed Police 3rd Battalion after firing 10 rounds in about 25 seconds, added the source.

The conspiracy has its roots in Tihar Jail, said sources. Around one-and-half-month ago, Abdul Nasir, a notorious criminal of North-East Delhi’s Jafrabad, had a heated argument with Chhota Asfar, an associate Irfan, a notorious gangster of Western Uttar Pradesh, inside a jail van, said the sources.

During their argument, Asfar threatened Nasir by throwing in Irfan’s name, the sources added.

“Nasir later decided to eliminate Irfan. He initially tried to approach some local criminals of North-East Delhi, but all of them rejected his proposal. In the meantime, Nasir met Shakti Naidu, the alleged mastermind of the Rs 8-crore Lajpat Nagar heist, in Patiala House Courts during hearings around a month ago. Naidu accepted Nasir’s supari to eliminate Irfan,” said a source familiar with the investigation.

One of the four juveniles, whose brother is lodged in Tihar, met Naidu as well as Nasir in the jail, said the source, adding that this is where the plan to eliminate Irfan started taking shape.

The source said this juvenile was held last year in connection with a murder case and he met with young gunrunner at the correctional home. He gave the gunrunner protection from other factions inside the correctional home, added the source.

After being released, the gunrunner told his friend to approach him whenever he needed weapons, said the source. “On December 12, the gunrunner provided all the weapons to the juvenile. On December 15, the juveniles conducted a reconnaissance of the court. They had planned to surrender before the court after killing their target,” the source added. Police are likely to seek Nasir and Naidu on remand, said the source.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paid homage to slain head constable Meena at the police headquarters Thursday afternoon.