New Delhi, Nov 27 (IANS): A 33-year-old contract killer involved in over two dozen cases of murder and extortion was arrested here early on Monday, police said.

The arrest was made around 2 a.m. when Abdul Munnar, a native of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, was heading to Okhla with an accomplice.

"We were looking for Munnar for the last few days. We received a tip that he would come to Moolchand (area). We laid a trap after barricading all major roads," a police officer said.

When Munnar and his accomplice neared the Lady Sri Ram College on a motorcycle, police teams asked them to halt. But they tried to escape.

"Our men chased them. The accomplice fired at the police. However, the police officers were able to overpower Munnar," said Inspector Rajinder Pehelwan. The accomplice escaped.

A pistol and three live cartridges were recovered from Munnar, Pehelwan added.

Munnar told the police that he had taken a "contract" to kill a businessman in Delhi's Okhla area.

He shot the businessman at his leg as he had just received half the payment for the job. He was waiting for full payment to eliminate him, the officer added.