The Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of Delhi Police’s Dwarka District has arrested four members of the Ashok Pradhan gang, including history-sheeter Mohit Bhardwaj alias Monu, after an 800-km inter-state pursuit spanning Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Police said the operation helped prevent a possible escalation of violence between rival factions of the gang.
According to police officials, the accused were involved in a series of criminal incidents linked to an internal rivalry within the Ashok Pradhan gang. The cases included allegations of knife attacks, abduction and attempt to murder in the Najafgarh area. Police also recovered a vehicle allegedly used in an abduction case during the operation.
The investigation was launched under the directions of Dwarka Deputy Commissioner of Police Kushal Pal Singh and Additional DCP-I Vikas Meena. The AATS team used intelligence inputs and technical surveillance to track the suspects, who had allegedly fled Delhi and repeatedly changed locations to avoid arrest.
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After monitoring their movements across multiple states, police traced the accused to Agra in Uttar Pradesh. A team led by AATS Inspector Manish Yadav, under the supervision of ACP (Operations) Subhash Malik, carried out a planned raid and arrested Mohit Bhardwaj along with three juvenile associates. The recovered vehicle was linked by police to a case registered on June 15.
Police said three FIRs had been registered against members of the rival factions in connection with offences involving physical assault, abduction and attempt to murder. The authorities said the arrests were part of efforts to curb organised criminal activities and maintain law and order in the Najafgarh region.
Bhardwaj, 29, a resident of Kamla Park, Dharampura in Najafgarh, has been identified by police as a history-sheeter and a Bad Character (BC) of Najafgarh Police Station. Police said he has previously been named in several serious criminal cases, including offences under the Arms Act, armed robbery, attempt to murder and murder. The three other arrested individuals are juveniles aged 17 years, according to police. Officials said further investigation is underway to establish their involvement in other criminal activities and gather additional information about the gang’s operations.
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