Inter-state gangster shot dead in Noida in encounter
A gangster wanted for a series of crimes in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, was killed and five others, including two police officers, were injured in an encounter in Noida Sector 41 on Monday.
The encounter was conducted by a joint team of Haryana police and the UP police’s special task force (STF).
“The accused, Balraj Bhati, a resident of Bulandshahr, carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh each from Haryana and Delhi police as well as a Rs 50,000 reward from UP police,” said Rajiv Narayan Mishra, additional superintendent, UP STF.
“Bhati was a repeat offender and had started committing crimes during his mid-teens. He had come in contact with dreaded gangster Sunder Bhati during his time in jail and joined his gang recently,” said Ajay Pal Sharma, senior superintendent of police, Gautam Budh Nagar.
STF officials said the police had a tip-off about Bhati’s presence in the area. “Today morning, our team had a specific input that Bhati would come near Sector 37 overbridge in Noida, along with his two aides, to collect extortion money.
STF teams under DSP Rahul Dev reached Noida around 9.30am and took the help of local STF UP and Noida Police and waited for Bhati’s car at Sector 37 overbridge. When his vehicle was intercepted around 11.30am, Bhati tried to escape from the spot and fired at the police teams,” said IGP Saurabh Singh, in-charge STF, Haryana.
Police chased his car and when he reached Sector 49 crossing, his car tyre burst in cross firing with the police. “He got down from the car and raced to the nearby locality,” Singh said.
Police said while two of his aides managed to flee, Bhati was trapped in an alley with a dead end. “Bhati then climbed atop a building and continued firing at the police in which five people, including three civilians and two constables of Haryana STF, were injured,” Swetabh Pandey, circle officer 3, Noida police, said.
“Bhati was killed in the retaliatory firing by our men,” Pandey said.
Police recovered a pistol used by Bhati from the spot and an unused carbine machine gun was found lying in the rear seat of Bhati’s Swift car. The two injured Haryana STF officials were identified as head constables Rajkumar and Bhupinder. They are out of danger, said police.
A 13-year-old boy, who was on his way to his tuition class, a disposable bags supplier and a staff of a local sweet shop were among others who were injured in the exchange of firing between Bhati and the police, said Arun Kumar Singh, superintendent of police (city).
He said that the operation was initiated by Haryana and UP STF and the local authorities were roped in eventually. “When the STF teams informed the local police, we cordoned off the area,” said the SP.
He said the criminals also had an AK-47. “The gangsters didn’t use it. It was taken away by one of the aides who ran away,” said Singh. A case was registered at Noida Sector 39 police station, and the matter is being investigated, police said.
“We are checking Bhati’s criminal history. So far, we know about 19 cases registered against him across UP, Delhi and Haryana. We are looking for his accomplices. At present, we don’t know who they were. We would be able to take further action only after a detailed investigation,” said Circle Officer Pandey.