Four criminals, including gangster Rajesh Kandela Bharti, were shot dead and one was injured in a shootout in south Delhi’s Chhatarpur on Saturday afternoon. Eight police officers also sustained injuries in the operation. The operation was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Special Cell Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.
DCP (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said that along with Bharti, Sanjeet alias Vidrohi, Umesh Don and Viresh Rana alias Bhiku were gunned down. The injured has been identified as Kapil who is undergoing treatment at AIIMS Trauma Centre.
The police said that Bharti and his accomplices identified themselves as ‘Kranti gang’ and carried out several murders, abductions, robberies, carjacking and extortion among other crimes, especially in Haryana and Delhi. In 2017, the gang allegedly killed a 32-year-old businessman in Dwarka and left a note stating that they will kill the anti-social elements of the society. In May, the gang allegedly committed at least three incidents of carjacking in south Delhi. Bharti, Vidrohi and Umesh were wanted criminals.
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Trap laid
The police said that they had been working to nab members of the gang for the last few months and received specific information that Bharti, Vidrohi and few others would be coming to Chhatarpur between 6 a.m. to afternoon in two cars after which a team of 30 police officers was constituted and a trap was laid.
“The two cars were seen coming around 1 p.m. on Chandanhola Road and the teams were alerted,” Mr. Kushwah said.
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The cars were chased and surrounded by police vehicles near SNS Farms. The officers stepped out of their cars and tried to open the doors of the vehicles asking them to surrender but the accused allegedly opened fire. “In self defence, the officers fired at the accused,” Mr. Kushwah said.
Sources said that at least 150 rounds were fired from both sides including about 50 from the accused and 100 from the police leaving four dead and nine injured on both sides.
Some accused flee
Mr. Kushwah said that the operation lasted less than three minutes and it is suspected that a few accused managed to flee the spot. “Five firearms including two Star pistols and one revolver were recovered from their possession and about 40 number plates were found in one of the two cars,” he said.
The injured cops have been identified as head constables Girdhar and Kuldeep, constable Gurdeep, sub-inspectors Krishan Kumar, Bijender Singh and Raj Singh, and assistant sub-inspectors Hari Chand and Jagat Singh among who six are severely injured.
The police said that all the accused have at least 10 cases of heinous crimes registered against them. A reward of ₹1 lakh was announced on Bharti’s arrest in Delhi and Haryana.