By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Hotel operator Mohd Shakeel Ahmed was fatally shot on 20 October in broad daylight in the Pirbahor area of Patna. In a major breakthrough, Patna police have arrested the primary suspect, Majid Khan, also known as DD, who had been on the run since the incident. Central Patna SP Sweety Sahrawat provided details of the case, confirming that the motive behind the murder was extortion.
According to SP Sahrawat, Majid Khan orchestrated the killing of Shakeel Ahmed, a resident of Dariyapur, after Ahmed refused to pay an extortion demand of Rs 20 lakh. Khan allegedly hired two shooters to carry out the murder when Ahmed continued to resist his threats. Police formed a specialised team to apprehend Khan, acting on intelligence that he had returned to his residence in Durukhigali. During the raid, Khan attempted to flee but was cornered and arrested by police from two nearby stations.
SP Sahrawat explained that Khan’s gang frequently loitered around an old house in the area, which Khan intended to purchase. Lacking sufficient funds, Khan sought to acquire the property at a reduced price through intimidation. When he discovered that Shakeel Ahmed had legally purchased the land and begun renovation work, he escalated his threats. Ultimately, Khan hired two shooters, Vicky from Alamganj and Sonu from Phulwarisharif, to eliminate Ahmed. Both shooters remain at large.
During questioning, Khan revealed that he had fled to Delhi after the murder and had grown a beard to alter his appearance. He was reportedly lying low, waiting for the heightened police activity to subside. However, he returned to Patna to visit his family, a move that alerted the police.
Shakeel Ahmed was shot dead by two assailants on Qutubuddin Lane as he stood by a vegetable shop after parking his bike. The shooters initially engaged him in conversation, asking about his renovation project before opening fire, killing him instantly. Ahmed, originally from Baghwara village in Jehanabad, had lived in Dariyapur for over 40 years. He owned two hotels—Krishna on Exhibition Road and New Ajanta in New Market—and had been overseeing the renovation of the newly purchased property.
Ahmed leaves behind his wife, two daughters, and a son, who are still pursuing their education. The police are conducting further investigations to apprehend the remaining suspects and bring justice to the grieving family.
