Delhi Police today described Manoj Morkheri, whom they arrested here after a shootout, as one among the top 10 criminals of the NCR and said he was allegedly involved in killing of a Haryana Police Inspector.
Morkheri and two of his associates, Vivek and Praveen, were arrested while another Rakesh, a former wrestler, was shot dead in the encounter which took place in Alipur yesterday, Ravindra Yadav, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), said. Another associate Rinku managed to flee.
"Morkheri is one of the 'Top Ten' criminals and one of the most dreaded gangsters of NCR. Police in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan had declared rewards for his arrests. His gang fired indiscriminately at police and in the ensuing exchange of fire Rakesh got injured and later succumbed to injuries," he claimed.
Morkheri is wanted in several cases of Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan and is currently involved in extorting money from bookies and protection money from traders and businessmen, Yadav claimed.
When intercepted in Alipur after a tip-off, the gang allegedly tried to escape after firing at police but were caught, he said.
"The bullet fired by the gang hit the windscreen of police gypsy and the driver had a miraculous escape as he ducked down and saved himself," he said.
During interrogation, Morkheri told about crimes committed by him and his associates, including the murder of an Inspector Ram Kishan Dahiya in Rohtak in January this year, the ACP claimed.
Morkheri entered the world of crime in 2003 when he threw chilli powder in the eyes of policemen carrying a criminal and helped him escape. Same year, he managed to escaped from Behror Jail in Alwar from the custody of Rajasthan Police.
The slain gang member Rakesh got admission in government College in Bahadurgarh. His father used to be 'sarpanch' of his village and has very good influence in the adjoining areas.
During his school days, he was inclined towards wrestling and started practising in Chattarsal Stadium from Jan 2003.
"In a very short span of time he became very famous in field of wrestling. He won Bronze medal in Senior State Wrestling Championship held in Delhi in 2006. In 2007 he won Gold medal in the same championship and became State Champion. In 2007, he also won Bronze Medal in Rajeev Gandhi Gold Cup," he said.
