Gangster in net, cops hunt for other extortion gang members

GURUGRAM: A dreaded gangster, wanted in over a dozen cases of dacoity, extortion and murder attempt, was arrested on Thursday with the city police claiming a major breakthrough against Tekchand gang that is active in twin cities of Gurugram and Faridabad.
A team from the crime branch rounded up Narender, alias Nitu (32), an active member of the Tekchand gang, from near Sahara Mall on MG Road following a tip-off on his movement in the city. A pistol and live bull-ets were found on him, police said adding that a fresh case in this regard has been registered at Sector 29 police station.

Narender, who carried a reward of Rs 10,000 on his head, was produced in a city court that remanded him in police custody for three days, on Friday.

With his arrest, the cops now expect to get a lead on other members, including Sachin who is believed to be the most notorious in the gang and carries a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.

ACP (crime) Shamsher Singh said Narender was involved in several criminal cases like loot, murder, attempt to murder, robbery and extortion.

“He had been active since 2014, committing 13 crimes — 10 in Faridabad and 3 in Gurugram,” said Singh.

Narender had committed his first crime, an attempt to murder, in Faridabad back in 2014 and was arrested for the same in 2015. But he came out on bail in 2016 and never returned. Subsequently, he was declared a proclaimed offender both in Gurugram and Faridabad in 2017.

About the Tekchand gang, police said the group specialized in robbery, loot and extortion. The gang would issue threats to businessmen and seek protection money on a monthly basis. If someone failed to cough up the money, the gang members would target them to instil fear. In 2017, Narender had opened fire at the owner of Apsara Hair Dresser located on Sector 5-6 road and demanded protection money. Later, he, along with other members, snatched a SUV 500 from Sector 56 at gunpoint. The SUV, which they used for crime, was recovered by the police later.

On Tuesday, the crime branch arrested four people, who had allegedly snatched an autorickshaw at gunpoint in Palam Vihar. The cops also seized an autorickshaw and a mobile phone from them.