In one of the major operations by Delhi Police, the sleuths of special cell gunned down three inter-State criminals in an 18-minute shootout in South Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area on Thursday night.
The 29-year-old Surender Malik alias Neetu Dabodia — wanted in several cases of robbery, extortion and murder in Delhi and Haryana — was shot dead along with his two flunkeys near The Grand where police claimed the trio had planned to kidnap a businessman for ransom. The three criminals had come to Delhi from Punjab for a reconnaissance in this regard. Police have recovered a Webley revolver, a steel grey pistol, a pistol with Made in Italy engraved on it, Deepak’s Hyundai i20, a SAF carbine fitted with magazine and seven cartridges, and a bag of 18 cartridges.
Police said that for the last two months, the private eyes of Special Cell were tailing Neetu, allegedly involved in 50 cases in different States, and his crony Alok Gupta of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. “On Thursday evening, police intercepted their call and learnt that Dabodia and his aides would come near the petrol pump adjacent to The Grand in Vasant Kunj. Acting on this information, a trap was laid by a team of 30 police personnel of Delhi Police. Dabodia, Alok and Deepak Gupta, an Uttam Nagar-based property dealer, reached the spot around 10.30 pm in an i20,” said SN Srivastava, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), adding when the team signalled them to stop, they tried to speed away and fired at the sleuths of special cell.
The vehicle was chased for nearly 300 metres before they being intercepted by police. They came out from their vehicle and opened fire at police forcing the sleuths to retaliate with cross-firing. Two police personnel were hit, but were saved as they were wearing bulletproof vests. The police squad car was also hit by a volley of assailants’ bullets.
No police official was injured in the shootout. “Dabodia was shot dead in the encounter. After the shootout, a call to the police control room (PCR) was made at 10.44 pm and district police was informed as well. Dabodia and his two aides were taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre where the three were declared dead on arrival,” the officer added.
Around 30 bullets were exchanged in the crossfire and so far, police have recovered 24 cartridges from the spot. Police sources said preliminary medical report revealed that Dabodia received five bullets to his head, neck and chest, while Alok received bullets to his flank and abdomen.