Youngsters during a candlelight march to pay tribute to Punjabi singer late Sidhu Moose Wala, in Jalandhar.
Highlights
- Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is currently under Delhi Police's custody
- Cops said they have arrested Siddhesh Hiraman Kamle, alias Mahakal, close associate of main shooter
- Mahakal has been arrested from Pune and 5 more suspects have been identified, said cops
Sidhu Moose Wala murder: Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is the mastermind behind the killing of the singer-politician, Delhi Police said on Wednesday.
Addressing a presser, Delhi Police Special CP HGS Dhaliwal said, "Lawrence Bishnoi is mastermind behind the killing... Maharashtra Police has been given Mahakaal alias Siddhesh Hiraman Kamble's 14-day police custody remand. He is a close associate of one of the shooters, but he's not involved in the killing."
"Lawrence Bishnoi is the mastermind, can't share further details on how he was involved. Our efforts are underway to nab the remaining accused," Dhaliwal said.
The Delhi Police further informed that at least 5 people were involved in the killing. One Mahakaal has been arrested, he's a close associate of one of the shooters involved, though he was not involved in the shooting. Actual shooters will be arrested soon.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is being interrogated by the Special Cell and Mumbai Crime Branch in both the Moose Wala murder and Salman Khan threat letter case, has denied of having any involvement in a threat letter given to the Bollywood actor.
As per information, Santosh Jadhav and Saurabh Mahakal are involved in the incident, and an investigation is underway. Saurabh has been arrested. Both have a connection with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said Kulwant Kumar, ADG (Law & order).
The senior official did not shared the name of the shooter with which Kamle is associated. However, he maintained that he has strong linkages with one of the shooter and he can help trace out more than one shooter.
The prime motive behind the Punjabi singer's murder is still unclear. "It is part of investigation and hence cannot be shared at this stage," Dhaliwal said, adding all relevant information is being shared with the Punjab Police.
According to the top officials of the Pune police, based on the interrogation of accused Saurav alias Mahakal, it has been found that the shooter Santosh Jadhav was in Pune till 3 days ago. When Punjab police released his pictures, he left for Nepal.
Earlier, Punjab Director General of Police VK Bhawra said that the killing of Moose Wala seemed to be the result of an inter-gang rivalry and that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was involved in it. He also informed about forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Famous Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead on Sunday by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover.
Moose Wala's cousin and a friend, who were travelling in a Mahindra Thar jeep with him, were also injured in the attack.
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