Lucknow, Nov 16 (IANS) A sharpshooter of jailed mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari who was wanted in 12 criminal cases has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district, police said Tuesday.

Sonu Yadav, 35, was nabbed Monday after a gunfight with the police in the Dildar Nagar area.

"We were tipped-off that Sonu Yadav would come to Ghazipur to kill a businessman. Acting on the information, we intercepted Sonu, who started firing at the police team. Later he was arrested," Superintendent of Police S.C. Dubey told reporters Tuesday in Ghazipur, some 280 km from Lucknow.

"A 9 mm pistol and several cartridges have been recovered from Sonu. The pistol was provided to Sonu by Mukhtar Ansari. According to Sonu, the weapon was used in several crimes committed by him," Dubey said.

According to police, 12 cases, including murder, abduction and other heinous crimes, are pending against Yadav.

Ansari, an independent legislator from Mau in Uttar Pradesh, is in jail for his alleged involvement in the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Krishna Nand Rai.