A 25-year-old man was killed and two others injured in a gun battle between members of the Neetu Dhabodia and Neeraj Bawana gangs in North-West Delhi’s Rani Bagh on Sunday.
The incident took place in the early hours of the day and gunshots woke up residents near the site where 15 rounds of bullets were exchanged between the two sides, according to sources. It was someone among the locals who informed the police about the incident.
According to the police, around 4-30 a.m. they received a call regarding the incident. On reaching the spot, the police team found Anil critically injured and two others, who were injured, trying to flee. The two – identified as Monu and Ashok – were overpowered by the police and all three were taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital where Anil was declared brought dead.
The two injured were arrested when they were discharged from the hospital after treatment.
According to sources, Monu is a member of Neetu Dhabodia gang while Ashok belongs to Neeraj Bawana gang. The alleged gang war broke out at about 3 a.m. on Sunday when members from either sides came across each other in a market on Road No. 4 in Rani Bagh.
“Interrogation of the two has revealed that there were five members of the Neetu Dhabodia gang and four belonging to the Neeraj Bawana gang. Together they fired about 15 shots,” said a senior police officer.
Armed with country-made pistols, they began firing at each other for some minutes before they realised a police team was close. In October last year, Neetu Dabodia was killed in a police encounter but the gang still uses his name to identify itself. It is now being led by Paras alias Goldy (absconding) and Rajesh alias Durmut. But sources say Neetu’s death has had an impact on the morale of his gang and has given the rivals a chance to challenge their dominance.
In April this year, the Delhi Police had arrested ten alleged members of the Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Baali gang who had come to a Rohini court to eliminate a key member of the Neetu Dabodia gang.