Man who killed Kargil war hero arrested after 8 years

An assailant absconding for last eight years after killing a Kargil war hero, a retired army official during pickpocketing, was arrested from the national capital.

The accused identified as Raju alias Ikram , 37, who was absconding for the last eight years was arrested from Sarai Kale Khan, said additional commissioner of police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav. Raju had been declared a proclaimed offender for a murder at Janakpuri in west Delhi, Yadav added.

The officer said that on October 23, 2005, Kanti Lal Gulyani, a retired army person and who had fought valiantly in the Kargil war, was travelling in a bus on route number 801. During his journey, he was surrounded by a gang of pick pocketers on the bus.

When they tried to pick his pocket, he raised an alarm and caught hold of one of the member of this gang. On this, the pickpocketers stabbed the victim and threw him out of the moving bus. The criminals managed to run away from the spot, leaving behind the bleeding victim, who later succumbed to his injuries.

A case was registered and during investigation, police found that that Lekh Raj gang of pickpocketers were involved in the crime. The police arrested Lekh Raj and four others but Raju, who was actively involved in this crime, went absconding. He was then declared a proclaimed offender by the court. 

On Friday, police received a tip-off that that Raju would come near ISBT Sarai Kale Khan to meet his accomplice. A trap was laid and Raju, a resident of Mahabir Enclave was arrested.

During interrogation, he told police that he used to be a key member of a gang of pickpockets headed by Lekh Raj and his brother Iqbal was second in command of this gang.
The gang used to operate from different points in West Delhi, from where they boarded the targeted bus. These included Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, Vikas Puri, Tilak Nagar, and Delhi Cantt bus stops.