Supplier Waseem and his associate, Majid alias Arman, were arrested after a brief shootout near Akshardham in East Delhi. (Express Photo)Six years after Shahrukh Pathan was arrested for allegedly pointing a weapon at head constable Deepak Dahiya during the 2020 Northeast riots, the Crime Branch has arrested the man who supplied the weapon.On Tuesday, it said it arrested Waseem alias Hazi Waseem, 40, and his associate, Majid alias Arman, after a brief shootout near Akshardham in East Delhi.Police said Waseem first opened fire. Two policemen then fired one round each in the air before overpowered the accused following a brief scuffle.A semi-automatic pistol, three live cartridges, two empty cartridges and a Maruti Swift allegedly used for transporting illegal arms were recovered, according to the Crime Branch.Also Read | ‘Body dragged like animal’: Life term for ex-AAP leader for 2020 Delhi riotsThe team was led by Inspectors Man Singh and Sunder Gautam under the supervision of DCP Sanjeev Yadav and Special Commissioner HGS Dhaliwal.The pistol seen during the riotsOn February 24, 2020, a photograph captured Pathan, dressed in a red T-shirt and blue jeans, emerging from a crowd in Maujpur with a pistol in his hand. He allegedly pointed the weapon at the head constable. Shahrukh Pathan, who allegedly pointing a weapon at a policeman during the 2020 Northeast riots. (Archive)Pathan was arrested in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, on March 3, 2020, from the house of a relative. Police later recovered the weapon from his residence. He remains lodged in Tihar jail.Story continues below this adPolice said Waseem came into contact with Pathan during his visits to Delhi from Meerut and supplied him the pistol in Seelampur in 2019.Links to organised crimePolice alleged that Waseem also has links to organised crime networks.According to investigators, he is a close associate of jailed Delhi gangster Cheenu Pehalwan.Several of Pehalwan’s relatives are based in Meerut, and police said Waseem came in contact with the gangster through them before becoming involved in arms supply and firing-related incidents.Story continues below this adAlso Read | IB staffer’s murder: Two brothers challenge conviction on sole witness testimonyPolice alleged that he also supplied weapons to shooters associated with the Bambiha and Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gangs and that he acted on the directions of Canada-based gangster Davinderpal Singh alias Gopi Lahoria.Other cases under probeInvestigators said Waseem’s role surfaced during a probe into a firing in Najafgarh on August 16.His name also came up in connection with the murder of a man in Delhi’s Seelampur on January 27. Police claimed he supplied the weapon used in that killing.In the latest case, Waseem has been booked under the Arms Act.Story continues below this adThe investigation is continuing, with investigators seeking to establish the wider network through which illegal firearms were allegedly procured, transported and supplied to gang-linked shooters.