Sadar crime solved

They were involved in over 20 heinous crimes across four states, including the accidental killing of a businessman during a robbery attempt gone terribly wrong at Sadar Bazar on December 19. But on Wednesday evening their luck ran out.

They were involved in over 20 heinous crimes across four states, including the accidental killing of a businessman during a robbery attempt gone terribly wrong at Sadar Bazar on December 19. But on Wednesday evening their luck ran out.

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The anti-robbery cell of the crime branch, led by ACP Rajendra Singh, apprehended Shah Nawaz (24), Shahwaj (40), Shahbaj Alam (20), Shah Ahmad Ali (46), Mohd. Akram (45) and Salim (31) from Capt. Gaur Marg, Lajpat Nagar, in South Delhi.

Police said the men were planning an armed robbery in South Extension.

“All the gang members are from Bijnaur District of Uttar Pradesh and have been operating from rooms temporarily taken on rent in Trans-Yamuna area,” said Amulya Patnaik, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

Police said the gang was involved in the recent Sadar Bazar murder case in which 40-year-old Nilesh Jain, a brass wholesaler, was killed after four members of the gang opened indiscriminate fire to keep onlookers at bay.

On November 11, the gang had shot at a meat trader in a bid to rob him at Gokul Puri in South Delhi and had shot dead a rice trader on the Old Yamuna Bridge on April 11, police said.

“The gang has also been involved in a number of house robberies in Jyoti Nagar and Seelampur in East Delhi during the past few months,” said Patnaik.

“Shah Nawaz was also involved in the attempted Mother Dairy robbery case in Mayur Vihar in 2008.”

Police said the gang usually targeted either traders carrying cash or a house in the relatively affluent colonies of the Capital.

“They favoured motorcycles for making a quick getaway after committing the crime, and have opened indiscriminate fire to injure their victim and scare passers-by on various occasions,” said a senior police officer.