Nagpur: After evading the police across several cities, a wanted criminal allegedly involved in a bid to eliminate Nagpur gangster Sheikh Akram alias Bhuru Sheikh Rahman was finally arrested by Crime Branch Unit-2 at Shegaon Railway Station on Tuesday. The accused, identified as Sheikh Mohsin alias Baba Tiger alias Musa, was brought to Nagpur late at night for further investigation.
Mohsin had been on the run since the August 11 attack on Bhuru Sheikh, 42, a resident of Anand Nagar in Sitabuldi. Police alleged that Mohsin was part of the organised gang that plotted to kill Bhuru and had been absconding since the incident.
The case came to light after Bhuru was allegedly targeted outside Hotel Memories near Somalwada Square around 11.30 pm on August 11. According to police, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Salim, 36, allegedly drove an SUV bearing registration number MH-40/CH-4777 into Bhuru before fleeing from the spot. Hotel employees alerted the police and Bhuru’s family, following which he was shifted for treatment. He has remained under medical care since the attack.
Investigators subsequently arrested Sharif, Shahbaz Khan alias Salman Billa Khan, 25, of Taj Nagar, Mankapur; Aamir Bashir Sheikh, 35, of Zingabai Takli; Mohammad Sahil Altaf Ansari, 28; and Mohammad Taufiq Sheikh Mohammad Arif, 28.
Police said Sharif had allegedly learnt that Bhuru frequently stayed at Hotel Memories and sometimes visited the premises alone at night. He allegedly shared the information with his associates and the group then planned the attack.
As the accused were allegedly operating as an organised criminal group and had several offences registered against them, police invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case. Mohsin, however, managed to remain underground.
The hunt for Mohsin took investigators through several locations. Police initially received information that he was hiding in Khaparkheda in Nagpur Rural, prompting searches in the area. When these failed to yield results, police teams travelled to Akola twice following fresh leads.
The investigation later pointed to Ajmer Sharif, but Mohsin reportedly moved out before the police team could reach there. Another alert indicated that he had boarded a train towards Nagpur. The police immediately alerted the Railway Protection Force and launched a search of the train, but the fugitive had already managed to evade the net.
The breakthrough finally came at Shegaon Railway Station, where Crime Branch personnel mounted a discreet surveillance operation. Officers dressed in plain clothes monitored passengers and coaches while waiting for confirmation of Mohsin’s presence.
According to police, the accused was spotted during a check of a general coach reserved for women. The moment he noticed the police, he allegedly attempted to flee. The officers gave chase and eventually surrounded him from different directions, leaving him with no escape route.
Mohsin was taken into custody and brought to Nagpur late Tuesday night. Crime Branch officials are now questioning him to establish his alleged role in the attack and ascertain whether he was involved in other offences linked to the organised gang.
