Jamshedpur police have zeroed in on a link between the accidental firing at Dayanand Public School in Sakchi on June 22, in which Class XI student Sudhanshu Gupta (17) was wounded, and the murder of Congress leader Shanbabu Mukhi (50) in Adityapur on June 15.

A resident of Dhirajganj in the neighbouring industrial town, Shanbabu was shot dead on Adityapur Toll Bridge during his evening walk. While six persons have been arrested so far in connection with the murder, key accused Santosh Thapo is still on the run.

According to police, Thapa had unleashed two teams of shooters on the Congressman. One, ready for ambush at the Adityapur end of the toll bridge, comprised Chhotu Ram and Akasho Gorai. The other team at the Kadma end comprised Abhimanyu Singh, alias Shanti, and Niloo.

"The objective was to ensure Shanbabu's elimination at every cost. After Chhotu was arrested on June 20, Shanti and Niloo panicked and chose to keep their firearms with one Rakesh Kumar of Guddu Pandey gang. Rakesh gave the guns to gang member Sunny Singh who in turn passed it on to the accused Dayanand student," said additional SP of Seraikela K.V. Raman.

Sudhanshu, who took a bullet in the spine after his classmate fired a 7.65mm pistol, on Saturday told police that the shooting was an accident. The gun, he said, went off when his classmate and Mango neighbour was busy bragging about firearms in his schoolbag before other students.

"However, the 7.65mm pistol that killed Shanbabu isn't the same as the one that wounded the student. During interrogation, Chhotu revealed that he had fired the single shot at the Congress leader's head while the pistol found on the student came from Shanti and Niloo. We shall still send the two empty cartridges for forensic study in Ranchi," Raman said.

Sakchi thana OC Anjani Kumar Tiwary too confirmed the circuitous route through which the firearms had reached the schoolboy.

"Sunny and Vivek, arrested two days ago from Mango, have confessed that they gave the student the guns after receiving them from Rakesh, also a resident of the same area. Sunny and Vivek have been sent to jail, but we are looking for Rakesh. It is rather bizarre how the 7.65mm pistol and the single-shot countrymade gun reached the student," Tiwary said.

Additional SP Raman said they had intensified their hunt for Thapa. "Once he is arrested, he may lead us to his bosses, two prominent city businessmen whom Chhotu has named during interrogation. A plot of land in Adityapur was the bone of contention between these businessmen and Shanbabu," the officer added.