Chhota Shakeel’s aide arrested

He was planning to target Tarek Fatah

The Delhi Police’s Special Cell has arrested an alleged aide of gangster Chhota Shakeel who was purportedly planning to eliminate Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah.

Junaid Chowdhry (21) was arrested from north-east Delhi’s Wazirabad in the early hours of Thursday based on a tip-off. A firearm was also seized from him.

According to the police, he planned to target Mr. Fatah when he came to India.

“Even though Mr. Fatah was not in Delhi, Junaid was here to carry out a reconnaissance,” said a police officer.

Arrested, released

Junaid was arrested in June last year along with three others — Roger Robinson, Manish and Yunus— with arms and hawala money allegedly sent by Shakeel.

At the time, the gang was planning to eliminate Hindu Mahasabha chief Swami Chakrapani, police said.

Junaid was granted bail four months later. The bail, however, was cancelled and he was sent to Tihar Jail. Later, he was again released on bail.

The police claimed that he had contacted Shakeel each time he was out on bail.

Lookout for accomplices

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) P. S. Kushwah said Junaid had been booked for criminal conspiracy and under the Arms Act. The police are verifying his call records and also looking for two of his accomplices.