Residents live in fear as Gurgaon gangs battle for supremacy

Turf war between gangs is threatening to disturb the peace in Gurgaon, putting lives of residents at risk. In the latest incident on Tuesday, a 32-year-old property dealer and bookie was shot dead by four unidentified men at a petrol pump in Sector 5.

On July 15, alleged gangster Rakesh Hayatpur and his driver were shot at while they were travelling in an SUV near MG Road Metro Station. The bullet missed Rakesh and hit the driver, who lost control of the vehicle and hit an autorickshaw. The autorickshaw driver died in the incident.

After almost a decade of calm, most of the recent gang wars have been for supremacy over real estate deals, extortion, gambling and other illegal means of income. There is also a growing apprehension that two major gangs in the city have joined hands to finish off their more aggressive and powerful opponent, who initiated the struggle for supremacy.

The police, however, have mostly remained a silent spectator.

These gangs are led by Sandeep Gadoli, Surjeet, Harender alias Heavy, Bindar Gujjar, Ashok Rathi, Kaushal, Mahesh Attack, Rakesh Banjara, Koushalpal, and Rakesh Hayatpur.

Most of the gangs have 25 to 30 members and their main job is to safeguard their fiefs.

According to the police, these gangsters operate low-key, have limited weaponry and rely mostly on country-made weapons. “These gangsters do not have any influence beyond their local sphere of operations and we keep a very strict tab on their activities,” an officer involved in crime prevention, said.

The property dealer, Raju Sethi, who was shot in the head on Tuesday, allegedly had close connections with the Sandeep Gadoli, another gangster, who is already absconding in connection with the murder of a gangster.

Sethi is believed to have been managing the finances of Gadoli gang and was arrested three months ago in an attempt to murder case.

Sources said he was also involved in gambling and had come on the radar of the rivals after the recent killings executed by the Gadoli gang.

Sources added that the group of gangster-turned-politician Binder Gujjar and gangster Mahesh have now joined hands to take on the challenge posed by Sandeep Gadoli.

Despite tall claims by the police of no gangs operating in the city, half-a-dozen incidents of shooting since March have proved otherwise.

Last month, the Gurgaon police had arrested Sanjeet Kumar, who shot Ashok Kumar, the driver of Binder Gujjar. They recovered two revolvers and two live cartridges from his possession. According to the police, he is a key member of the Sandeep Gadoli gang.

Police teams had conducted raids at all possible locations after the murder of Kumar on October 4 and the main suspect Sandeep Gadoli is still at large.

In 2015, 94 murders have already been reported until November against 93 reported in 2014. Persons owing allegiance to different gangs are operating in Gurgaon with impunity, issuing threats and killing opponents in crowded markets and busy roads.

According to sources, currently, there are 10 gangs in Gurgaon dealing in real estate, extortion and gambling.

The Gurgaon police claim that despite the city being connected to two other states — Delhi and Uttar Pradesh —they managed to nab 16 inter-state gangsters till September 17, 2015. As many as 44 people have been arrested so far, the police said.