Delhi: 2 held for misusing firearms to threaten property dealer

Two men were arrested for allegedly misusing licensed firearms to threaten a property dealer over a land dispute in outernorth Delhi’s Samaypur Badli area, an official said on Sunday.

The accused — identified as Pankaj Rana, alias Golu (32), and Praveen Rana, alias Kalu (38) — residents of Siraspur. Two licensed revolvers used during the confrontation were seized, a senior police official said.

The matter came to light on March 26, when complainant Akhilesh Tiwari (36), a property dealer, approached the Samaypur Badli police station and alleged that he was threatened by a man, identified as Dilbagh Rana, alias Billu, after purchasing a property in Siraspur village.

Billu allegedly demanded Rs 3 crore from Tiwari to allow him access to the property and when he refused, Rana and his armed associates — Golu and Kalu — allegedly confronted him at the site, with one of them opening fire, the official said. Billu later allegedly increased his demand to Rs 6 crore and threatened the complainant over a phone call made from an international number, he added.

The official said a case was registered and CCTV footage of the incident was analysed during investigation and audio-video recordings were seized.

The two accused were arrested based on technical and manual surveillance, the official said. Strict action was being taken against license holders, who misused firearms, and recommendations for cancellation of their arms licenses had been initiated, they said.