5 Punjab gangsters held after shootout in Delhi
Police recover 17 firearms, 100 cartridges from members of infamous Lawrence Bishnoi gang; had been staying in Delhi’s Dwarka for past month
NEW DELHI: A joint team of Delhi and Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested five members of Punjab’s infamous Lawrence Bishnoi gang after a 30-minute gunbattle in south-west Delhi’s Dwarka on Tuesday and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Police said no one was injured despite multiple shots being fired by both the sides in a residential neighbourhood that is located close to Dwarka Mor Metro.
A sixth member of the gang, Toni, managed to give the team of Delhi and Mohali Police a slip by climbing down through the window of the house on second floor using a curtain. The man was later seen in CCTV footage fleeing the spot with a gun in hand.
SAS Nagareni or superintendent of police Kuldeep Singh-Chahal identified the arrested men as Deepak, Tiku, Krishan and two other men who went by the name of Sumit.
“We have recovered 17 firearms, mostly pistols and rifles of different bore sizes, and more than a 100 cartridges. These men were wanted in at least three cases of murder or attempts to murder in Punjab ,” said Ch a hal.
Locals said the alleged gangsters were staying in one of the houses in the three-storey building for the last one month.
Lalit, a local tea vendor, said that the quiet neigh bo ur hood was jolted awake by the sound of gunshots around 11.30 am. He said that right before the firing started, three vehicles full of policemen had arrived outside the building. out Soon gunshots rang across the neighbourhood, spreading fear and panic.
Police said, they went upstairs and told the occupants of Flat No. 204 to surrender. However, the men inside the flat opened fire.
“Soon, police men cordoned off the building and started returning fire. Several rounds were fired by both the parties. The policemen took positions in and around the building and in term it- tent sounds of gunfire could be heard every few minutes. The firing lasted for at least 30 minutes before the police team could go inside and overpower the suspects,” said Amit Gandhi, who lives in another building in the vicinity and claimed to have had watched the gun battle .
Others, including those residing in the area, either ducked for cover or curious ly watched on as soon as the shootout began.
A Delhi Police team joined the Punjab Police in the operation but DCP (south-west) Shibesh Singh said their role was only peripheral.