Ahmedabad: Three persons have been arrested on Tuesday in connection with the murder of a eunuch leader here, who was shot dead around two weeks back following a territorial dispute and business rivalry, police said. Imran Ajmeri alias Soniyade Aashikde Pavaiya, popularly known as Soniyade, was shot four times from close range on November 24 at a roadside joint near Nehru Bridge.
City Crime Branch today arrested Sahezad Chippa (25), Vasim Sipahi (24) and Renu alias Gumansinh Jadon (25) from near Vasant Rajjab police checkpost in Jamalpur here.
"Those arrested today belong to a gang of another eunuch Sanju Masi, who is the mastermind behind Soniyade`s murder. We have not arrested Masi due to health problems. But we will make the arrest as soon as Masi gets well," joint police commissioner Mohan Jha told reporters here.
"Soniyade was killed following a territorial dispute and rivalry with Sanju Masi, who was aggrieved because of the former`s assertiveness that was affecting business," Jha said, adding there were allegations against Soniyade for throwing acid on Sanju a few years ago in Surat.
Jha further said that an amount of Rs two lakh was paid to a sharp shooter Ganesh from Porsa village of Madhya Pradesh, who shot Soniyade from close range. Ganesh is presently absconding and search for him was on, he added.
Jha said after Diwali, Vasim used to keep a watch on Soniyade`s movement. On the evening of November 24, when Soniyade stepped out of the house, Vasim informed Sahezad, Sanju`s fiancee about the location.
Sahezad reached the spot with shooter Ganesh, who shot Soniyade four times from close range, killing on the spot.
According to police, Sahezad, Vasim and Ganesh then went to Sanju`s house in Amraiwadi, collected Rs two lakh and fled to Jaipur before going back to Ganesh`s village in Madhya Pradesh.
Today the trio had come to collect some money from Sanju Masi, but were arrested by Crime Branch officials following a tip-off.
PTI