On Saturday, the state special task force (STF) and Bihar police arrested nine individuals from Kolkata and the adjacent New Town area in connection with the July 17 murder of gangster Chandan Mishra in a Patna hospital.
Among those detained was Nishu Khan, who claimed to media on Sunday that his brother, Taushif Reza alias Taushif Badshah, became involved in the murder “out of ignorance.” According to Khan, Taushif drove the car used by the gang to flee Kolkata after the killing.
Security footage from the hospital showed Taushif leading the group of five hitmen, all of whom have been arrested. Khan, while being taken to Kolkata’s Alipore court, expressed regret, stating that he had repeatedly advised Taushif against criminal activities. “I met Taushif in Beur jail two years ago, and we became close. I told him not to bring shame to the family, but he got involved out of ignorance,” said Khan.
Taushif had surrendered to Bihar police before the raids and was reportedly returning to Patna when arrested. Meanwhile, Bihar police secured transit remand for four others accused of directly participating in Mishra’s murder inside Paras Hospital.
Khan denied allegations that the murder was planned at his home and said he was unaware of the motives behind the killing. He also mentioned that Omkarnath Singh alias Sheru Singh, currently imprisoned for a 2023 jewelry robbery and suspected to have ordered the murder, was once friends with the victim.
Sources revealed that the arrests followed questioning of Sheru Singh at the Purulia correctional home. The gang intended to leave Kolkata for Delhi and had sought hideouts in New Town and Park Street before settling temporarily in a guest house at Anandapur.
During the police raid, Khan was carried out on a stretcher due to a leg injury. The guest house has come under scrutiny after past incidents involving Punjab gangsters hiding there. Authorities also detained a woman suspected of aiding the gang in securing shelter.
