Gangster Jitender Gogi was on Friday shot dead by two attackers dressed as lawyers inside Rohini court in Delhi, The Indian Express reported.
The attackers were members of a rival gang led by jailed gangster Sunil alias Tillu Tajpuriya. The gang is active in Delhi’s Alipur area and Haryana’s Sonipat city, the newspaper reported, citing police officials.
The attackers have been killed by the police.
However, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana told NDTV that Gogi’s death was not the result of a gang war.
Asthana said that the police was present at the spot and reacted swiftly. But, he acknowledged that there “was a security lapse” and said that the police will look into the matter.
“I assure you, I will not tolerate this lapse,” the Delhi police chief told NDTV. “Action will be taken against those responsible for the security of the court.”
The shootout took place when the gangster, lodged in Tihar Jail, was being produced in the court for a hearing. He was accompanied by members of the Delhi Police’s Counter Intelligence team.
“Minutes after he entered [the court], they whipped out pistols and opened fire,” an unidentified official told The Indian Express. “There was chaos and police personnel of the Counter Intelligence team fired in retaliation. Both the attackers died at the spot.”
Eight rounds were fired by both the teams from the Special Cell, The Indian Express reported, quoting an unidentified officer. A third battalion used AK-47 on the assailants.
One of the assailants carried a reward of Rs 50,000, Asthana told ANI.
Rakesh Sherawat, chairperson of the Bar Council of Delhi, said that the attack was a major security lapse, according to ANI.
“Such incidents have been repeatedly happening, court security is at stake,” he said. “Despite raising this issue with Delhi CP [Commissioner of Police], no concrete step has been taken.”
The Delhi Bar Association has asked its members to refrain from working on Saturday, according to The Indian Express.
“In view of the call by Coordination Committee of all District Court Bar Association of Delhi, working in the court will be suspended due to revision of security norms on account of today’s unfortunate incident in Rohini Court, Delhi,” it said in a statement.
In the last six year, 10 members of the two rival gangs have been killed and several others have faced life-threatening attacks, The Indian Express reported.
Since 2016, Gogi has been involved in four murders, including the high-profile killing of Haryanvi folk singer and dancer Harshita Dahiya.
Gogi carried a reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head.
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