Gangster behind trader’s murder near Jama Masjid

NEW DELHI: Notorious gangster Hashim Baba has emerged as the alleged mastermind behind the murder of a trader near Jama Masjid reported on April 28, cops said. The crime branch of Delhi Police has arrested the main shooter, Shehzad, involved in the incident, who spilled the beans behind the conspiracy.
Confirming the developments, special commissioner (crime) Ravindra Yadav said that the arrested shooter has revealed that he had received instructions from Hashim at the Patiala House courts when he had come on a trial date. Hashim wanted to threaten a rival and establish his supremacy in the area. Therefore, he ordered the hit.
The incident, reported from ‘Kabutar Market’ had created a furore. A probe revealed that Shehzad had got into a brawl with his rival named Furqan Bhura on April 23. Five days later, Shehzad met Hashim at the court and then proceeded to eliminate Bhura. However, Bhura was not there after which Shehzad and his associates caught hold of his brother named Imran and shot him dead.
The cops recently got a tip-off that Shehzad would come to Delhi cantonment after which a trap was laid and the accused was arrested.
Hashim’s real name is Asim, cops said. A fan of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, Hashim kept long hair, asked his friends to call him ‘Baba’ and aspired to become a don in his neighbourhood since his teenage days.
“He first started gambling business in the trans Yamuna area of Delhi. He then joined the notorious gang led by gangster Nasir and committed a series of murders, robberies and extortion. His modus operandi was to intimidate the traders, demand extortion and shoot those who didn’t pay,” said an investigator.
After the kingpin of the gang, Nasir, went to jail, Hashim took charge of the gang. However, when Nasir came out of jail after some time and demanded to be in charge again, a rivalry started between them. Many murders took place in the gangwar, which started after Hashim formed his own gang. Hashim established full control over areas like Chand Bagh, Mustafabad and Seelampur.