Almost a fortnight after a Delhi Police informer was killed in Noida Sector-36 by a gang of auto lifters, the police claimed to have arrested the main accused on Monday night after a brief gunbattle in Vasant Kunj area of South Delhi. The police said the arrested person, identified as the gang kingpin, Rahul alias Arun (30), is also alleged contract killer. Two of his associates were arrested earlier this month and have been identified as Bhupinder, 28 and Sanjay, 26.

On October 20, an informer of the Anti Auto Theft Squad (South Delhi), Pramod Kumar, was shot dead by a gang of criminals when he was trying to strike a deal with them as a decoy customer.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) HGS Dhaliwal said that on November 3, Bhupinder alias Happy was arrested and a stolen Alto car and a pistol were recovered from his possession. On his tip-off, Sanju alias Sanjay was arrested near the AIIMS Trauma Centre on November 6.

Based on inputs, the police came to know that Rahul would come to Safdarjung Enclave in South Delhi around 11.30 pm. Upon being intercepted, Rahul tried to escape on his jeep by firing at the police team. The police team, too, fired in retaliation and blocked the vehicle path, preventing his escape, following which the accused was arrested.

Rahul told interrogators that he came in contact with Dharmender, a notorious autolifter through a common friend in Meerut Jail. After their release, they formed their own gang and started stealing cars, committing robberies and contract killing.

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