KATHMANDU: Nepal Police today released the photographs and a composite sketch of the key perpetrators believed to be involved in the murder of media baron Jamim Shah. According to preliminary investigation, Babbu alias Deepak Shahi hatched the conspiracy to kill Shah on the directive of Bablu Shrivastava, an Indian gangster. He recruited local shooters to gun down Shah. Addressing a special press meet organised here, AIG Madan Bahadur Khadka, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said a five-foot-three-inch tall man in his 20s, who looked like someone from the Tarai, was the principal shooter hired by Shrivastava. Other details about him were not known. “Mohammad Bakar Saiyed was driving the motorcycle used in the killing,” AIG Khadka told the gathering. SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, in-charge Metropolitan Police Crime Division, said close aides to Babbu were: Guddu Singh alias Ravin, who bought mobile phone SIM card from Everest Communications and help Saiyed buy the motorcycle from Siddhi Auto Works in New Baneshwor; Dadu (30) and a 25-year-old man, who apparently was the shooter. According to the police, Babbu, Saiyed, Ravin, Dadu and two other unidentified persons were Indians. Four Nepalis — Shree Krishna Poudel, hailing from Kaule, Nuwakot; Raju Lama, Kishor Khadka (who stammers) and Prakash Chhetri, who hailed from Shripur, Belauri, reside in Lalitpur. Of them, Prakash, who is also an SI of Nepal Police, has been held. SP Ganesh KC, in-charge, Metropolitan Police Range at Hanumandhoka, said others involved in the murder were still at large. “Prakash met Babbu some five years ago when he was in India to attend his aunt’s marriage ceremony. Babbu arrived in Kathmandu on January 30 and repeatedly talked to Prakash over phone and also met him,” Ganesh KC added . SSP Chand said Prakash was with Shree Krishna when he came to know about the shootout. “He didn’t let the investigating officials know about it for days. It is an inexcusable crime he committed,” he added. Shree Krishna helped arrange small arms and the motorcycle. According to the police, “Bharat Nepali, who is a close aide of Chhota Rajan, and Bablu Shrivastava played a key role in Shah’s murder. Bharat operates from Singapore and Bangkok”. Shrivastava, who is languishing in a Lucknow jail, was also involved with a gang of Chhota Rajan. According to the police report, the conspiracy to kill Shah was hatched in the house belonging to former DIG of Armed Police Force Gyanendra Raj Rai in Shanti Nagar, cargo office of Shree Krishna, Sangam Guest House in Bag Bazaar, Shree Krishna’s rented house in Mhepi and a rented house of Sabita in Gongabu. Babbu is believed to have fled Kathmandu. Chand. SP KC argued that they would seek the cooperation of Indian police and the Interpol, when needed. The police, however, are yet to figure out the motive behind Jamim Shah’s murder.