3 sharpshooters of Neeraj Bawana gang arrested

Three youths, including the son of a central security force official, who are alleged to be ‘sharp-shooters’ working with Neeraj Bawana gang, have been arrested, police said on Tuesday.

The accused have been identified as Vikas (22), Ravi (21) and Sunil (22). In October, the trio allegedly called up a Delhi-based businessman and demanded Rs 1 crore as protection money, followed by another call within 24 hours.

Two days later, they allegedly opened fire outside the office of the businessman to terrorise him. The matter was reported to the police and investigation was taken up, said DCP (Outer) Vikramjit Singh.

Investigation revealed that the accused called up the complainant with stolen mobile phone. A police team was formed to probe the case, said a police official.

On Saturday, they received a tip-off that some members of Bawana gang would come to Sector 37 in Outer Delhi’s Rohini sub-city. A trap was laid accordingly and the accused were arrested, said the official.

The police also recovered a country made pistol from their possession, said the official adding that Vikas turned out to be the son of a sub-inspector in one of the central security forces.

Further investigation revealed that in 2014, Vikas allegedly hatched up a conspiracy with Bawana’s trusted aide Naveen Bali, who was lodged at Tihar Jail then, to eliminate one Pradeep Bhola (also in jail), who was a key member of rival Neetu Dabodia’s gang, said the official.

Vikas and his associates planned to kill Bhola at Rohini court premises where he was about to be brought for a hearing. However, the plan was foiled by the Special Cell, who were tipped-off about it, and as many as 10 associates of Vikas were arrested, said the official.

Bhola, and his associate Paras Goldy, were later allegedly beaten to death by Bawana’s associates in a prison van when they were heading towards Tihar after a hearing at the Rohini court, said the official.

While Neeraj Bawana, who operated as an extortionist — with several criminal charges against him, including murder — in Delhi-NCR was arrested by the Special Cell in March, his associate-turned-enemy Neetu Dabodia was killed in an encounter with the Special Cell in 2013.