Delhi Police arrests sharpshooter from Kasganj in early morning encounter; aide manages to escape

The Delhi Police said that they had received information on Monday morning that Munnawar alias Tanwir,  a sharpshooter of the notorious "Chhenu" gang in Uttar Pradesh, hails from Kasganj.  Tanwir would come to Okhla. The police surrounded the area and tried to stop him when he entered the area.

However, Tanwir hit the barricade and started firing at the police. In the resulting police firing, Tanwir was hit twice but was apparently wearing a bulletproof vest. One of his accomplices was successful in escaping.

NDTV reported that Tanwir has a dozen cases of murder and loot against him.

Representational image. ReutersRepresentational image. Reuters

Besides other cases, the police will investigate if Tanwir had any role to play in the communal violence in Kasganj in which a 22-year-old was shot dead.

Republic Day celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district had been marred by a spurt of violence, as members of two communities clashed, leading to the death of a one person, and leaving several people injured.

One of the prime accused, Salim Javed, was arrested on 31 January from a hideout in Kasganj, an officer of Uttar Pradesh Police had said, adding that based on leads provided by him, police are looking for the other accused as well.

An illegal pistol was also recovered from his house during a raid.

The police are also looking for his two brothers Naseem and Waseem, who are reportedly close to the Samajwadi Party.

On Saturday, Rahat Qureshi, another accused was arrested, the police had said. A countryside pistol and some cartridges were also recovered from Qureshi's possession. Courtesy: First Post website.