UP gangster nabbed after gunfight

Faridabad, July 21

The local police have arrested a gangster carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head.

The accused, identified as Pradeep Kumar, a resident or Kharkhari village under Loni police station of Ghaziabad in UP, was held after he attempted to run away and opened fire at cops in the BPTP area here last night.

The accused, who was on a motorcycle, was asked to stop during a night domination drive by the police on Saturday night around 10 pm. However, he did not stop and drove on a dead-end road, where he left the mobike and opened fire on the police team chasing him.

The retaliatory firing by the police team, led by SI Sumer Singh, left him injured and he fell on the ground. The accused has been admitted to the civil hospital for treatment.

Wanted in 11 cases, Pradeep has been a prime accused in the murder of the kin of a BSP leader, Vijay Pal, in Loni, about seven months ago. He has eight cases of murder, attempt to murder, loot , dacoity and theft registered against him at Loni police station. One case each is pending against him in Modi Nagar, Kavi Nagar and Ghaziabad city. One case is also pending against him at Timarpur of Delhi. A case of attempt to murder was lodged by the local police after the brief gunfight here. —TNS