Special Cell nabs notorious gangster in Dilshad Garden

NEW DELHI: A Special Cell team arrested a dreaded criminal and wanted gangster early Friday morning from Tahirpur, after a brief shootout.

Police said the arrested criminal Asif (34), a resident of Chauhan Bangar in Jafrabad, is a sharp shooter and a cousin of notorious gangster Irfan alias Chhainu Pehalwan.

Asif was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh for his arrest.

On the intervening night of March 22 and 23, police received a tip-off that Asif would come to Tahirpur, Dilshad Garden, to commit a crime on a Pulsar motorcycle.

A trap was laid near Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty hospital in north east Delhi's Timarpur area. As soon as Asif arrived on the spot, the police informer confirmed his identity.

Sensing police presence, Asif tried to flee, but the police team blocked his passage and asked to surrender.

Asif, instead, took out a pistol and opened fire, targeting the police party members, who had a narrow escape.

He was eventually overpowered and a semi-automatic 7.65 mm pistol, along with one empty and four live cartridges were recovered from his possession.

"It was revealed that Asif had extorted Rs 30 lakhs on gun-point from a businessmen namely Vinod Jain of Brahampuri after his abduction in the year 2014. Asif also fired at him to terrorise.

"In July 2015, Asif again threatened Vinod Jain to extort Rs 20 Lakh. Vinod Jain refused to pay the extortion money and reported the matter to the police," said Deputy Commisioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah.