Chhota Shakeel’s aide held in Bengaluru

Investigations so far reveal that Niyamath was in regular touch with Shakeel and getting instructions and providing updates about the developments here. Niyamath and his men were involved in extortion, robberies and murders in the city and several other cities in the country, a senior police officer said. Niyamath, who had over eight criminal cases pending trial against him, used to frequently travel across the country and meet contacts. According to our investigations so far, this is the first time Niyamath has been in touch with Shakeel over phone and we have been monitoring him since then, the officer added.

“We started collecting information about him and his men and watched his movements constantly before making the arrest,” said the officer. “After his arrest, an intense interrogation was carried out and he revealed that they were planning to foment communal trouble in the city. He had planned to assassinate few community and religious leaders in the state to trigger communal disharmony,” the officer said.

Niyamath had cases against him in Shivaji Nagar, Bharathi Nagar, Sampigehalli, Pulakshinagar and other police stations. He was arrested in 2009 by Tilak Nagar police in connection with the murder of a youth, which was communal in nature. He was later released on bail and he resumed criminal activities.