In a joint operation of Delhi Police Crime Branch STARS-2 with UP STF and local police of Meerut apprehended a criminal wanted in more than 20 cases of heinous crime including dacoity and murder. The gangster identified as Sonu Thakur 31 years alias Gaurav alias Doctor alias Ajay from Bareilly was arrested with one of his associates Manoj alias Malkhan 32 years after a brief exchange of fire in Chandi Nagar area, Baghpat, western Uttar Pradesh. The police recovered from them two semi-automatic pistols, three magazines with three live cartridges and one motorbike Apache.
Keeping in mind the gravity of the crime on the rise, a team of STARS-2 comprising Inspector Shiv Darshan, inspector Vinay Tyagi, SI Ravinder Singh and others was formed under the supervision of ACP Arvind Kumar. On a tip-off about a desperate interstate gangster wanted in a murder case of a businessman in Ghaziabad would come to the area PS Chandi Nagar district Baghpat with his associate with intent to commit a crime, the Crime Branch Delhi shared the information with STF Meerut and local police led by Brijesh Singh CO/STF Meerut and inspector Umesh Roraria SHO Chandi Nagar.
Sonu Thakur has been active in Delhi and NCRs for some time, he even carried a bounty of rupees 50,000 on his head declared by Delhi Police and Ghaziabad, UP. He is previously involved in around 20 cases including murder, dacoity, robbery, snatching and Arms Act committed in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Khurja, Bulandshahr in UP.
The police laid a trap, two persons were seen coming from the Baghpat side on a motorcycle late in the evening. The police team flagged them to stop but the pillion rider whipped out a pistol and started firing on the police party and turned his motorcycle onto the road alongwith village Khatta Nahar. The criminals were rounded up near Khatta Nahar Puliya, Chandi Nagar, Baghpat, UP.
The criminals sensing danger started firing indiscriminately on the police party and tried to flee the scene. The police party also retaliated in self-defence. The criminals fired 15 rounds and the police party shot 11 rounds.
The bullets of both the criminals hit the police officers SI Ravinder Singh, ASI Rakesh (both of Crime Branch/STARS-02), HC Sanjay and HC Veer Boss (both from STF/Meerut) but were saved by the bulletproof jackets they were wearing at that point. Both the criminals sustained gunshot injuries in their legs. They were rushed to the Government Hospital, Baghpat and later on shifted to Government Hospital, Meerut, UP by the local police.
In this regard, three cases vide Crime No. 103/19, under Sections 307/186/353/504/506/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Crime No. 104/19 under Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act, 1959, & Crime No. 105/19, under Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act, 1959, have been registered at P.S Chandi Nagar, UP and investigation taken up by local police.
"Sonu is a desperate criminal and committed 20 cases of armed robbery and snatching in Delhi and NCRs. He commits a crime with his associates and does not hesitate even one bit to open fire in the face of resistance. He robbed an oil trader in Ghaziabad, and even shot 3 bullets at him right in front of his house and ran off with rupees 5.20 lakh some months ago. They killed one Paramavir in his house in Achhoda, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He with his aides pumped 18 bullets into his body. Manoj alias Malkhan has 14 heinous criminal cases to his credit including Arms Act, he was also booked under Gunda Act by PS Sihani Gate Ghaziabad. Further probe is underway," spoke Dr Ram Gopal Naik DCP Crime Branch, Delhi Police.
He is still wanted in that concerned case FIR No.323/13, under Sections 302/147/148/149/457 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, PS Partapur, Meerut (UP).
