Patna, Feb. 17: A key accused in the murder of former Jawaharlal Nehru University students’ union leader Chandra Shekar was arrested from Mahmoodpur village under Jeradei police station in Siwan district last evening.

Sheikh Munna had been on the run since Chandra Shekhar was killed along with a leader of the Siwan district unit of the CPI-ML, Shyam Narayan Yadav, allegedly at the behest of Shahabuddin near JP roundabout on March 31, 1997.

Munna, a close relative of former RJD MP from Siwan, Mohammad Shahabuddin, was wanted in connection with the Chandra Shekhar murder case being probed by the CBI. Munna is among the five named accused in the case.

Confirming Munna’s arrest, Siwan deputy superintendent of police (head- quarters) Ashok Kumar said: “We will hand over the accused to the CBI. We have already informed the investi- gating agency about Munna’s arrest.”

A CBI team had conducted raids at different places in Siwan to arrest the four accused.

Sources said the attempt of the central investigation team went in vain. It had to leave the district empty- handed.

One of the accused, Reyazuddin, was killed near Narmunda village under Siswan police station in 2005.

The three other accused have been identified as Dhruv Jaiswal, Rustam Khan and Mintu.

A case had been lodged at Siwan Town police station after the double murder on the basis of the statement of a member of then CPI-ML state committee Ramesh Singh Kushwaha.