Wanted gangster arrested after brief exchange of fire

A 25-year-old man, who figured among the top three most-wanted gangsters in the capital, was arrested after a brief encounter in south-west Delhi’s Dwarka on Friday.
The gangster opened fire while trying to flee, police said.

Anil Pehalwan, who hails from Haryana’s Jhajjar district, is known to be kidnapper Manoj Morkheri’s close aide.

He was a state-level champion and national-level participant in weightlifting.
Police said he is involved in four cases of murder, three kidnappings for ransom, an extortion, a carjacking and a case under the Arms Act.

“Anil was not arrested since 2010 and a reward of Rs 1 lakh from Delhi Police and two separate rewards of Rs 50,000 each from Haryana Police were declared on his arrest,” said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

On Friday, a trap was laid on an information that Anil would come to meet an accomplice in Dwarka.

“Anil was spotted in a Mahindra Scorpio and was signalled to stop, but he tried to flee. Our team intercepted him at which he whipped out a pistol and fired two rounds,” Yadav added.

A policeman was injured when the SUV hit him. The police team succeeded in apprehending Anil after firing six shots. Anil told police that he wanted to make a mark in the crime world and formed a dreaded gang with Manoj Morkheri. “They were inspired by the Mumbai underworld,” Yadav said.

They began with kidnappings for ransom, and Anil used to choose the targets on the basis of the lifestyle and financial background of the victims.

In 2011, they started collecting protection money from bookies and started settling financial disputes of properties of Delhi-NCR using muscle power.

One of the most sensational crimes executed by the gang was the murder of a retired inspector of Haryana Police. The team led by the slain officer had killed one of the gang members in an encounter.

“The gang waited till the officer retired and at the first available opportunity, Anil along with his gang members killed the officer,” Yadav added.

After the killing, several gang members were arrested by Delhi Police and Haryana Police, but Anil continued to evade and became one of the top wanted criminals of NCR.
His criminal activities ebbed down as he was evading his arrest by hiding in various places including Nepal and Sikkim.