A 24-year-old sharpshooter from Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj, where clashes broke out on Republic Day was arrested after an encounter in Delhi’s Okhla Mandi on Monday, 5 February, Indian Express reported. A .32 bore pistol and six live cartridges were seized from the accused, Tanvir alias Munawwar, a member of northeast Delhi’s “Cheenu Gang.”
Security was heightened and the area barricaded after the Delhi police received a tip-off on Tanwir’s arrival at Okhla Mandi along with an accomplice on Monday morning, NDTV reported. A Maruti swift car entered the area during late afternoon and opened fire on the police team.
In retaliatory firing, the police attacked them and managed to hit Tanwir twice. He survived owing to a bulletproof jacket he wore. His aide was successful in absconding.
Soon after, Tanwir was arrested and taken to the hospital. The Delhi Police said the accused is close to Cheenu Pehalwan, who is presently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, the Indian Express report added.
The accused who is wanted in a number of cases. In 2016, he escaped after firing at police officers in Delhi, the NDTV report stated. The accused carries a Rs 70,000 reward for his capture. Besides, he is also wanted in a 2017 double murder case which took place in Brahmpuri and Vijay Park in Delhi.
The police is likely to investigate whether Tanwir incited communal violence in Kasganj where 22-year-old Chandan Gupta, one of the bikers in the “Tiranga Yatra” organised on Republic Day, was shot.
(With inputs from Indian Express, NDTV)
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