Delhi: top gangster Neetu Dabodia, aides shot down

One of Delhi's most notorious criminals, wanted in more than 50 cases of murder, extortion and robbery and carrying a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, was killed along with two of his accomplices in a late-night shootout on Thursday.

One of Delhi's most notorious criminals, wanted in more than 50 cases of murder, extortion and robbery and carrying a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, was killed along with two of his accomplices in a late-night shootout with the police near a five-star hotel in south Delhi on Thursday.

Surendra Malik, better known as Neetu Dabodia, among the city's 10 most wanted criminals, was involved in a number of cases in neighbouring Haryana as well.

The special cell was tipped off that Dabodia would be visiting The Grand area in Vasant Kunj with his associates, SN Srivastava, special commissioner (Special Cell) said. The meeting was called to plan a big strike in Delhi, sources said.

"The information was developed and a trap laid. The criminals arrived in a car at around 11pm and were surrounded," Srivastava said. When they were asked to surrender, the men rammed the car into police vehicles and opened fire, the officer said.

"We retaliated in self-defence and in the shootout all the three occupants of the car were killed," he said. Not just the Delhi Police but even the Haryana Police had set a cash reward on Dabodia.

One of the gangster's associates was identified as Alok Gupta. The police were yet to indentify the third man killed in the gun fight in the tony locality.

Dabodia was allegedly involved in the killing of Delhi police head constable Ram Kishan in December last year.