The Delhi police on June 9th, 2018 has shot dead one of the city’s most-wanted criminals, Rajesh Bharti, and three of his associates in one of the deadliest gunfights in south Delhi’s Chhatarpur area.
Sanjeev Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (special cell), who led the operation said that “about 150 rounds were fired including 50 those were shot by the accused.”
In the gunfight, eight policemen, two of whom are critical, and one of Bharti’s associates were also injured, police said.
The operation was initiated after the police got an information that Bharti along with six to seven men would arrive in Kharak village in Chandanhola area of Chhatarpur.
Pramod Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of the special cell said that “the informer said six to seven men would arrive in Kharak village in Chandanhola area of Chhatarpur between 6 am to 1 pm, in two cars. It was known that the men will be led by Bharti. His right-hand man Sanjeet Vidrohi will accompany with other aide Umesh, we were told. All the members of the gang were suspected to be armed.”
As per the reports, the operation was started in the morning when a team of 30 police officers from the special cell laid a trap for Bharti in Chandan Hola village in Chhatarpur.
When the gang emerged around 1 PM in two cars, a Hyundai i20 and a Ford Endeavour, the police gave them chase and managed to sandwich the criminals’ vehicles Yadav said.
Police then with the help of backup forces managed to corner Bharti and his associates near SNS Farms said Kushwah. But when they asked the criminals to step out of the car and surrender, Bharti and his associates opened fire, triggering a hail of bullets from the police, he added.
“The cell executed the operation in a professional manner and with adequate preparation. The police first asked the accused to surrender but they opened unprovoked firing on police team. In retaliation, the special cell team fired upon them, leaving four of team killed, and one injured,” Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik said.
Bharti, a resident of Jind in Haryana who led a group named ‘Kranti gang,' is accused of multiple cases of murder, extortion and abduction and carried a reward of 1 lakh for his arrest.
The three of Bharti’s associates who were shot dead in the encounter were identified as Sanjeet Vidrohi, Umesh Don, and Viresh Rana. Vidrohi was allegedly Bharti’s right-hand man and also carried a reward of R 1lakh for his arrest. Umesh allegedly worked for Bharti and had a reward of R 50,000 announced for him. Rana, alias Vicky, was a resident of Ghewra in Delhi, police said.
