3 min readNew DelhiDec 12, 2024 04:03 AM IST
First published on: Dec 12, 2024 at 04:03 AM IST
The Shahdara district police are considering announcing a reward for information on the two bike-borne assailants who had allegedly shot dead a businessman at Shahdara last week.
Sunil Jain (52) was gunned down at Shahdara’s Farsh Bazar on Saturday while returning home from a morning walk. He ran a utensils business. On Sunday, the police said it is possible that he was killed owing to a “mistaken identity”, as his physique was similar to that of the “real target” and they shared similar routines.
The real target, they added, was the father of a juvenile, who allegedly plotted the murder of a property dealer and his 16-year-old nephew on Diwali. The plot resulted in Anil alias Sonu Matka gunning down Akash Sharma alias Chotu (40) and his nephew Rishabh Sharma in Farsh Bazar. Anil alias Sonu Matka is a member of the Hashim Baba gang, the police have said.
The police have identified Jain’s shooters as Zaheer and Golu alias Mukesh alias Sachin. “Golu was upset and wanted to take revenge, as he considered Akash Sharma as his brother. Chotu was known to give financial support to not just Golu but others as well,” said a police officer.
The police said that Golu, a Class 4 dropout, has 11 cases against him. He allegedly first came under the police lens when he was booked in a molestation case. “The family members of the girl who was molested had confronted him. He went on to thrash them and was booked for the first time,” the officer said.
The officer added, “He has been arrested thrice by the Special Cell and also by Welcome and Bhajanpura police stations in Northeast Delhi. As per his record, he falls in the ‘pick-pocketing’ category. He is involved in cases of house theft and attempt to murder as well as those lodged under Arms Act, among others.”
The police said they have raided several locations in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other neighbouring states looking for the two shooters. “We are considering announcing a reward for information on the assailants who shot dead the businessman,” said the officer.
Also, the bike used in Jain’s murder did not have a number plate and was stolen. “The missing plate was placed on another bike, which has been traced,” the officer added.
Officers privy to the investigation said the juvenile’s father would at times have tea at the same stall visited by Jain. “After the businessman was murdered, Anil alias Sonu Matka has changed his hideout again,” the officer said.
A member of the Hashim Baba gang, Sonu Matka had been residing in Meerut for a long time, said police. “Sonu Matka, who has a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, is also connected to gangster Rashid Cablewala and is an accused in the Rs 1.5-crore Karol Bagh robbery of 2022. Cablewala and Hashim Baba are also involved in the illegal betting business,” the officer added.
Sunil Jain was shot dead in Farsh Bazar, Saturday. File 
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