In Sonipat, Haryana, Special Task Force Sonipat and Delhi Crime Branch encountered three shooters belonging to the Bhau gang. The Delhi team was in pursuit of the criminals, and the STF Sonipat team had set up a barricade on Chinnouli Road. Upon seeing the police at the barricade, the trio fired 25 to 30 rounds. In response, the police fired back, injuring all three. They later succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
As the chase ensued, the Delhi team began pursuing them. On receiving information, the STF set up the barricade on Chinnouli Road. A white car soon appeared, and as the STF team attempted to stop it, the criminals tried to escape. Subsequent firing by the criminals ensued when the police intervened.
Source: aajtak
The STF and Delhi Police teams urged the criminals to surrender during the gunfire, but they continued shooting. Both sides exchanged 25 to 30 rounds of bullets. Eventually, after firing in self-defense, the authorities wounded the trio and transported them to the Kharkhoda hospital, where they were pronounced dead during treatment.
The identified culprits were residents of various villages in Haryana. The police recovered five sophisticated pistols and 19 cartridges from the criminals. The cartridges were found in their pockets.
The encounter was linked to several ongoing criminal investigations. Among the deceased was a shooter involved in the Burger King homicide in Delhi, where a youth was killed by firing 40 bullets inside the restaurant, presumptively associated with the notorious Bhau gang and other criminal activities that had brought a wave of terror across many districts.
Police Superintendent's statement regarding the encounter clarified that the STF had been following the gangsters upon entering Haryana, in sync with the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The joint operation saw exchange of around 40 to 50 shots during the confrontation. All three were declared dead at the hospital after being shot and possessed multiple warrants and proclaimed rewards in various districts for their captures.
The hunted trio was traveling in a KIA Seltos when their car became trapped in a field and they opened fire against the police. The criminals, ignoring repeated calls to cease fire and surrender, continued their aggressive stance, which resulted in injury to a Sub-Inspector and reliance on the protection of bulletproof jackets for other officers during the encounter.
The incident was marked by a significant gunfire exchange, with the police firing 19 rounds and the criminals firing around 24 rounds. Police recovered five automatic pistols from the scene. The wounded were transported to the hospital in ambulances where they were declared deceased. The slain culprits were identified as Ashish Kalu, Vicky Ridhana, and Sunny Gujjar, known shooters of the wanted gangster Himanshu Bhau, based in the United States. An Interpol Red Corner Notice has been issued against Himanshu Bhau.
