Gangster who killed his wife held after encounter

New Delhi: A gangster involved in more than 40 criminal cases including the murder of his wife was arrested after a brief encounter in Seemapuri area of Shahdara district.

Police said that the accused was planning to kill her mother-in-law.

Police identified the accused as Aasif, a resident of Nand Nagari, has been involved in dacoity, murder, robbery, snatching.

He was also arrested by Hyderabad police on May 2013 and booked in 10-12 cases of snatching.

According to police on the intervening night of September 20-21, they led a trap near the community centre at 70 Futa Road in Seemapuri area. At about 2.00 am, one person came on a red colour motorcycle from Seemapuri Gol Chakkar side.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Amit Sharma said that when the team signalled him to stop, he accelerated but he was stopped by blocking the way with barricades.

On this, he suddenly pulled out a country-made pistol and fired three rounds towards police team, out of which one bullet hit at bulletproof jacket worn by assistant sub-inspector Sukhbir.

In self-defence and to make him surrender, ASI Sukhbir also fired two rounds from his service pistol.

In the meantime, head constable Amit grappled with him and ASI Sukhbir disarmed him. On frisking his body 21 live rounds were recovered from his possession.

One live round of .32 was found in the chamber of pistol used by him.

"The latest case is of the murder of his wife, to whom he had killed on February 25 at Garima Garden in Sahibabad (UP). A reward of 25 thousand is declared on him by the UP Police," police said.

He further revealed that he was also planning to murder his sister-in-law and mother-in-law, who were pursuing the murder case of his wife.

During further investigation, the pistol used in the crime has been recovered.