Wanted criminal held after daylight gun battle

Noida: An inter-state criminal who was wanted in over a dozen cases of heinous crimes has been nabbed by police following a broad daylight gun battle in Noida phase-2 area on Monday.

Cops said that the accused was mastermind of the dacoity incident at the corporate office of Mahagun builder that took place in April this year.

According to police, the arrested accused has been identified as Sachin Thakur, a native of Sikandrabad area in Bulandshahr.

"The accused was arrested after a joint operation was carried out by Noida crime branch and Phase II police. The arrested accused carried reward of Rs 1 lakhs on his head," said police officials.

Vaibhav Krishna, Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar said that the accused allegedly plotted the dacoity at Mahagun's corporate office and was absconding while other accused were arrested.

"Police has received a tip-off about the movement of accused and combing was performed. Police spotted two criminals on a motorcycle and signalled to stop.

The criminals opened fire on police party and in retaliatory firing, one of the criminals, identified as Sachin Thakur sustained bullet injury in his leg while his accomplice managed to flee," said Krishna.

"Upon sustained investigations, it came to light that the accused is the mastermind of the dacoity incident that took place at Mahagun builder's corporate office in sector 63 of Noida on the intervening night of 27th and 28th April. The accused was absconding since the incident and a reward of Rs 1 lakhs was declared on his arrest," added Krishna.

The officer further said that over a dozen incidents of loot, attempt to murder, dacoity and gangster act are registered against the accused in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad and other nearby districts.

Police have recovered a an illegal country made pistol and a few cases of live ammunition from the possession of accused.