Two members of Sonu Dariyapur gang, who were carrying a reward of ₹2 lakh each on their arrest, were arrested on Friday, the police said on Saturday. The accused were on the run for 12 years, the police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said that the accused, identified as Sanjay Lakra (47) and Vijay Lamba (38), were arrested from Pochunpur village.
The police said that they had received an information that the gang members had been changing their hideouts and planning to eliminate witnesses in the cases registered against Dariyapur and other members of the gang. They had been allegedly extorting money in the name of the gangster who was arrested in September last year.
“Information was received that Sanjay and Vijay would come to Pochunpur village. A trap was laid. Around 10.30 p.m., the two were intercepted in Najafgarh when they were coming in a car, which was later found to be stolen from Badarpur,” Mr. Kushwah said, adding that two firearms and 18 live cartridges were seized from their possession.
The police said that Lamba has more than six criminal cases under Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act and on charges of murder, attempt to murder and assault registered against him. “He is the son of a retired police officer. He used to practice wrestling when he was young. He started getting involved in criminal activities after he came in contact with Dariyapur,” Mr. Kushwah said. The police also said that Lakra is the son of a retired government officer and has more than 20 cases registered against him under the MCOCA and other charges.
Dariyapur was arrested by the Special Cell after being on the run for eight years. The Delhi Police had announced a reward of ₹5 lakh on his arrest, while the Haryana Police had announced ₹50,000.