Gangs of Noida on ‘recruitment drive’, lure youth from east UP jails

The gangsters of western UP are recruiting youth in the jails of eastern Uttar Pradesh, police said. All the infamous gangsters of the city are lodged in separate jails of eastern and central UP to avert gang wars. The special task force (STF) has learnt that these gangsters are funding petty criminals lodged in the jails to furnish their bail bonds and luring them to their gangs.

“Intelligence inputs suggested that many of them are spreading their gangs in eastern UP. We are compiling details of criminals who have recently furnished their bail bonds and are out from these jails. These men are under radar,” said Raj Kumar Mishra, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), STF (west).

The police said gangster Anil Dujana is lodged in Banda jail and his rivals Sundar Bhati and Singhraj Bhati are lodged in Hameerpur jail. Balram Thakur, a gangster of Bulandshahar and a close associate of Bhati gang is lodged in Unnao jail. Another associate of Bhati gang, Randeep Bhati, is lodged at Basti prison. Another gangster of Greater Noida Ankit Gurjar, who is also a close associate of Sundar Bhati, is lodged in Maharajganj jail. Gangsters Vikas Pandit and Yogesh are lodged in the Sitapur prisons. They are said to be a close associate of Dujana gang. Ghaziabad’s notorious gangster Mukeem Kala is lodged at Maharajganj prison as well.

“To avert gang wars between these gangs, the head and key members were shifted out of the city to different jails. However, it was found that they were trying to keep their business of extortion and contract killing alive from the jail. We have foiled at least eight contract killing plans of these gangsters recently. Many of the arrested shooters where found to be visiting their gang heads at the jails,” Mishra added.

These gangsters were arrested in last couple of years for allegedly running organised criminal syndicate of extortion, smuggling, contract killing, a number of robberies, disputed land business, murder, attempt to murder and many other crimes.

In November 2015, the STF received an input about secret meetings of gangsters of eastern UP with the gangsters of western UP.

“During scrutiny of surveillance reports, it was found that members of Dujana and Thakur gang had met the gang members of dreaded gangster of eastern UP Munna Bajrangi. It is understood that the new recruitment is a result of a failed attempt of a collaboration with Bajrangi,” Mishra said.

Now the police fears that if youth of eastern UP start committing crime in the satellite city, it will become a big challenge for the sleuths.

“We have the details of such suspects and our counterparts in eastern UP have been alerted about this. We will be conducting raids soon to nab these new recruits,” Mishra added.

Gangsters of Gautam Budh Nagar

Sundar Bhati (50) - Resident of Dujana village of Greater Noida; involved in over 30 criminal cases, arrested in 2014. Accused of planning murder of Dadupur’s village head Harender Nagar in 2014.

Anil Dujana (45) - Resident of Dujana and arch rival of Sundar Bhati. He has a parallel criminal empire and was arrested in 2012. He is accused of planning assassination of BJP leader Vijay Pandit in 2014.

Balram Thakur - A resident of Bulandshahar; works with Sundar Bhati gang. Runs a criminal syndicate in western UP. Arrested in 2015 for a number of criminal cases including murder, extortion and smuggling.

Randip Bhati (30) - Resident of Greater Noida. Close associate of Sundar Bhati. He has a number of criminal cases lodged against him. Arrested in 2015.

Ankit Gurjar (35) - Resident of Greater Noida. Close associate of Sundar Bhati. He is involved in a number of gangwars and extortion. Arrested in 2015.

Singhraj Bhati (45) - Right-hand man of Sundar Bhati. Arrested in 2015. He accompanied Sundar in all crimes.

Vikas Pandit and Yogesh - Both aged between 30 and 35. Worked for Dujana. Arrested in 2015.