Cops arrest wanted criminal who had escaped from police custody

Cops had placed a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his arrest. Accused of killing Devender Rathi, a cable TV operator in Begumpur, several heinous cases such as murders, and extortions were also registered against Dabas. Moreover, after he managed to escape from the police custody, he committed several other crimes such as attempt to murder and one vehicle theft.

On January 29, Dabas along with his accomplices Ashish, Pardeep and Sunil shot dead Devender Rathi in Begumpur in Outer Delhi. Member of Ajay Barwala gang, Devender along with other accused in the murder of Rathi were arrested in February. 

However, on April 11, Dabas escaped from police custody while he was being escorted by the 3rd Battalion at the Bawana Bazaar area red light while he was being taken to Kharkoda Court in Panipat for hearing, said police.

According to the police, after he escaped, a case was registered at the Bawana police station. 

During investigation, police received a tip-off that on June 20, Dabas along with one Ajay and two others will come prepared to kill one Manjeet Kumar, who is the brother-in-law of Devender Rathi. 

They planned to eliminate him due to an old rivalry that too in full public view. However, Manjeet escaped unhurt.In order to escape from the police, the accused tried to flee on their motorcycle but it did not start. So they fired at a motorcyclist and fled with his vehicle. 

They also fired at two passers-by. In the firing, Dabas was accidently shot at by one of his accomplices and suffered injuries, said a senior police officer.

“Finding Dabas hurt, his accomplices robbed a Hyundai Verna and finally escaped. Meanwhile, Dabas had been hiding at different places during the last two weeks while recuperating from the injury that he had sustained,” said a senior police officer.