Two Tillu Gang Shooters Held After Rohini Encounter

Delhi Police arrested two alleged shooters from the Tillu Tajpuriya gang following an exchange of fire in Rohini, cracking the recent murder of a rival gang member, an officer said Sunday.

The accused, identified as Vicky alias Rahul Ranga, 27, and Vishal alias Sahil, 26, allegedly opened fire on a police team that intercepted them Saturday night near UER-II Road, acting on specific intelligence.

According to police, a trap was laid following surveillance and specific intelligence on the suspects' movements. As the two arrived at the spot on a motorcycle, they allegedly attempted to flee and fired indiscriminately at the police team upon spotting them. Police said they retaliated in self-defence before apprehending the pair, who sustained bullet injuries to their legs in the retaliatory fire and were overpowered. No police personnel were injured, officials said.

Police recovered two illegal pistols, six live cartridges, six empty cartridge cases and a motorcycle allegedly used in the July 30 murder of Harish Mathur, a member of the rival Gogi-Dinesh Karala gang.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Shashank Jaiswal said the recovered motorcycle was allegedly used in Mathur's killing. Police said the accused were allegedly in contact with a US-based associate of the Tillu Tajpuriya gang via encrypted communication applications and were receiving instructions from abroad. "The handler arranged arms and money to be delivered to the accused by leaving them at an abandoned location on the Kharkhoda-Rohtak Road, from where they collected the items," an officer said.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly revealed that Mathur was targeted over his association with the rival gang, and that they had conducted reconnaissance on five to six other members of the group with plans for further attacks. "Their timely arrest has foiled a larger conspiracy and prevented further inter-gang violence," Jaiswal said.

The DCP said Vicky faces four criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder and Arms Act offences, while Vishal is named in three cases, including two under the Arms Act. Both accused were shifted to hospital, and further investigation is underway to identify other gang members, police said.

(With inputs from PTI)