Shootout at Delhi court, leaving three killed

At least three people, including dreaded jailed gangster Rajinder Mann ‘Gogi’, were killed in a shootout at the premises of Delhi’s Rohini court on Friday. The two slain assailants, dressed as advocates, belonged to the rival gang led by jailed gangster Sunil alias Tillu Tajpuriya.

Members of the Counter Intelligence team of the Special Cell who were with Gogi opened fire at the assailants, killing the two men. Gogi received four bullet injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. Unconfirmed reports suggest that several others have been injured in the incident.

The Indian Express quoted a senior police officer saying the incident took place when Gogi entered the court where the two men, posing as advocates, were already sitting. “Minutes after he entered, they whipped out pistols and opened fire. There was chaos and police personnel of the Counter Intelligence team fired in retaliation. Both the attackers died at the spot,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying.

A few months ago, Gogi’s associate Kuldeep alias Fajja had managed to escape from police custody when he was produced in Karkardooma Court. Since then, a team of Counter Intelligence had been accompanying Gogi and his associates during their court hearings.

Gogi was arrested in in April this year under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) by Delhi Police’s Special Cell. He has been named in 19 cases of murder and attempted murder, besides dozens of extortions, dacoities, carjackings and robberies.

Gogi was involved in property dealing after having dropped out of school and indulged in criminal activities after his father’s death in 2010.

Gogi and his rival Sunil alias Tillu have been running extortion rackets in Alipur and Sonipat for years, and the constant strife between the two gangs has often ended in bloodshed. In the last six years, over 10 members of the two gangs have been killed, while many others have barely survived attempts on their life. _Agencies