Patna,(BiharTimes): A top Madhesi leader of Nepal has come under the scanner of Darbhanga police in connection with the killing of two private construction firm engineers at Shivram village under Baheri police station on December 26.

According to a Times of India report police are also investigating an HDFC bank account opened in the name of one of the shooters in which Rs 13 lakh was deposited 20 days back.

The report also said police got these vital clues after they arrested shooters Abhishek Jha, Vikas Jha alias Kalia, Nikesh Dubey and two of their associates, Karan Jha and Pintu Jha on March 4. They are all members of Santosh Jha gang.

The report quoting sources said one Sushil Jha alias Sushil Mishra of Laxmipur Balra in Nepal, who is a close associate of the Madhesi leader, brought the AK-47 rifle in India from Nepal. After the killing, he took the rifle back to Nepal.

“The arrested shooters have admitted that Jha gang has two AK-47 rifles, four carbines and at least 12 pistols which are kept in a safe house in Nepal and sent to India only during any operation,” a police source was quoted in the the daily.

Sources further said Vikas fired with AK-47 while Nikesh used a pistol in Darbhanga killings. They were accompanied by Abhishesk and Mukesh Pathak, while Karan and Pintu guided the four.

“The three shooters were hired by the kingpin of the gang with a monthly salary of Rs 25,000 each while the two others were on remuneration of Rs 10,000,” said the sources.

During marathon interrogation of the arrested five criminals, police got to know that the four shooters dropped weapons in Sitamarhi and fled to Nepal. Sources also said that police were investigating an HDFC bank account outside Bihar which was opened 20 days back and operated by the shooters. They said the police were trying to locate the person who had deposited cash of Rs 13 lakh in the account for the shooters.

“The Jha gang was running an organised syndicate using banking services across the country,” a senior police officer told the daily on condition of anonymity.

“Several police teams interrogated the five members of Santosh Jha gang for more than nine hours and every important information had been extracted,” said Darbhanga SSP A K Satyarthi.