New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Delhi Police’s Special Cell has arrested three alleged sharpshooters linked to the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang along with two suspected arms suppliers, foiling a planned firing incident in the national capital that was allegedly aimed at extortion, officials said on Sunday.

Police said the accused had been tasked by jailed gangster Sangwan, also known as Nandu, to open fire at a clinic in Delhi’s Chhawla area as part of an extortion bid. Three semi-automatic pistols, four live cartridges, and three mobile phones were recovered from their possession.

According to the Special Cell, the operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on organised crime and extortion syndicates active in Delhi-NCR. Based on technical surveillance and intelligence inputs, officers learnt that Punjab-based shooters had been recruited by the gang to target a prominent location in southwest Delhi.

Following sustained surveillance over more than a month, police identified the operatives and arrested Abhishek, a resident of Amritsar, on March 20. During questioning, he allegedly disclosed details of the plan and named his associates.

Subsequently, police arrested Sahil and Harshdeep alias Polu, both from Amritsar, along with Karan alias Ankush and Aman from Haryana’s Kaithal district, who allegedly arranged weapons and logistics for the shooters.

Investigators said the accused had travelled to Delhi in February and conducted reconnaissance near the clinic in Chhawla. However, the plan was allegedly put on hold due to a heavy crowd presence near the target location.

Police said weapons, ammunition and a motorcycle had been arranged through gang associates based in Haryana. The recovered mobile phones were allegedly used to stay in contact with Sangwan.

Officials said the arrests have dealt a significant blow to the extortion racket being run by the Nandu gang and prevented a major firing incident in the capital.

The interrogation of the accused has also helped investigators gather details about the gang’s operating structure and how it allegedly attempts to evade law enforcement while coordinating criminal activities.

Police said some of the accused were previously involved in criminal cases registered in Punjab and Haryana.

Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace the broader ecosystem allegedly supporting the gang’s extortion activities.

–IANS

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