NEW DELHI: A notorious criminal linked with the Holi murder of a shopkeeper in Delhi's Aya Nagar was apprehended by the Delhi Police following a brief gunfight, an official said on Monday, March 20.
The accused was identified as Rajat alias Rajju, 28, a local of Ghaziabad's Loni neighbourhood.
Rajat allegedly fired twice at the police squad, but after a round of return fire, he was apprehended, according to the official.
"On the intervening night of Sunday-Monday, precise inputs were received and Rajat was intercepted along the Dera Mandi Road, Fatehpur Beri," said to DCP (South) Chandan Chowdhary. He also said that Rajat was initially arrested in 2019.
"He fired twice at the police team, but after retaliating, he was defeated. He was found in possession of a stolen FZ-Bike, a Webley handgun, two live rounds, two used cartridges, and more, the source said, adding that Rajat had previously been involved in seven criminal cases.
"He encountered crooks and gangsters inside the jail and was motivated by them. He was detained once more in 2021 for robbery and violating the Weapons Act.
He met a criminal named Arjun two months ago, who had joined him after being released from prison after serving 12 years.
The DCP said, three other people namely Ravi Nagar, Naveen, and Praveen, were also engaged in the murder of the shopkeeper Surender on March 8 in addition to Rajat and Arjun.
On March 12, Ravi Nagar was arrested, the official added.
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