The sleuths of Special Cell and Dwarka district of the Delhi Police have arrested a 34-year-old criminal who has been identified as the mastermind of shootout and murder of a gangster Praveen Gahlot at Dwarka Mor on May 19 in national Capital.

The accused Gopal Kishan alias Pali, a resident of Najafgarh, a gang member  of the notorious ‘Pradeep Solanki gang’ who was into extortion and several cases of attempt to murder and arms act was identified during investigation and police teams were detailed to arrest him, a police official said.

On May 19, two gangsters were killed in the shootout, an outcome of a property dispute, between rival gangs near the Dwarka Mor metro station in South West Delhi.  The gangsters were identified as — Praveen Gahlot, a resident of Nawada area and Vikas Dalal. They had several cases of murder, extortion and robberies registered against them in Delhi and Haryana.

Gahlot was in his car when three men in another vehicle intercepted him and opened fire at him. Fifteen rounds were fired in the busy Dwarka mor area. Earlier on May 24, the police have arrested one of the shooter identified as Ankit Dabas (20) after an encounter during which a semi-automatic pistol, along with live cartridges, a bike, were recovered from his possession.

According to Anto Alphonse, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Dwarka district, on May 25, specific input were received that a criminal who was the main conspirator would come near Sai Baba Mandir on Najafgarh Uttam Nagar Road to meet someone.

“Acting on the tip-off a trap was laid and a man was stopped on the basis of suspicion, but as he tried to flee and fell on road following which police overpowered him. Police have also recovered one country made pistol with two cartridges from the possession of the accused,” said the DCP.

“During interrogation, the accused confessed that he was the main man working on the directions of Pradeep Solanki, for eliminating Praveen Gahlot,” said the DCP.

“The accused further revealed that following a land dispute between Pradeep Solanki and Praveen Gahlot, Solanki directed his associates to eliminate Praveen Gahlot and absconding gangster Vikas Dalal took the command to complete the task. Solanki also directed Pali to act as back up shooter and also provide live tracking information to Dalal regarding their target (Gahlot),” said the DCP.

“Pali carried out several recees of the areas in Uttam Nagar to note movements of Golu and provided input to Vikas Dalal. The gang prepared a plan and decided that it shall be executed on May 19, Sunday,” said the DCP.

“As per plan, Pali reached near Nawada Metro Station on a motorcycle to track the movements of Golu while Vikas Dalal, alongwith his two aids- Ankit Dabas and Cheeta waited in a swift car for the exact information from Pali,” said the DCP.

“When Gahlot was spotted in his Ritz car going towards Dwarka Mod Metro Station. Pali passed this information to Vikas Dalal, who immediately started trailing the Ritz car. Pali, in possession of a loaded pistol, also followed them with a back-up plan to shoot Gahlot, if something went wrong,” said the DCP.

“Vikas was shot dead by a PCR constable, while his associates Ankit Dabas, Cheeta and Pali fled from the spot,” said the DCP adding that further investigation is going on.