Ghaziabad. In a decisive action against organised crime, the Ghaziabad Crime Branch SWAT team conducted a major encounter on Saturday night, resulting in the death of Balram Thakur, a notorious gangster associated with the late Anil Dujana gang. Balram Thakur, who had risen to prominence within the gang after Dujana’s demise, was a wanted criminal with a reward of ₹50,000 announced for his capture.
Background of the Gang
The Anil Dujana gang has long been a source of terror in Ghaziabad and neighbouring districts. Dujana, the original leader, was notorious for extortion, abduction, and targeted attacks on local businesses and individuals. Following his encounter with death, Balram Thakur emerged as a key figure, assuming command over the gang’s operations.
Police say he was a professional criminal with over 34 cases registered against him, including murder, extortion, robbery, dacoity, and other gang-related offences. He was particularly active in the Mazarai area under the Jahangirabad police station and had cultivated a reputation as a feared history-sheeter.
Balram often presented himself as the ‘guru’ or mentor of Anil Dujana, creating an aura of authority that enabled him to continue the gang’s extortion rackets even after Dujana’s death.
The Extortion Spree
According to police reports, Balram and his associates had been actively demanding large sums of money from local businesses over the past several weeks:
- On 9 August, an unknown WhatsApp number demanded ₹25 lakh from a complainant, threatening severe consequences if refused. The caller identified himself as Balram, claiming association with Anil Dujana.
- On 13 August, a group of 8–10 men in a white Bolero and black Scorpio abducted a complainant, held him in Dujana village, and released him only after ₹2 lakh and jewellery worth 15 tolas were handed over. Subsequent calls from the same number continued to threaten and demand money.
- On 17 September, the same mobile number contacted a sweets-shop owner in Sihani Gate, demanding ₹50 lakh, and threatened to kill the complainant if payment was not made. That day, the same number also called an iron dealer in Lohia Mandi, Kavi Nagar, demanding ₹25 lakh while threatening the entire family.
These audacious extortion attempts prompted the Ghaziabad Police Commissionerate to deploy the Crime Branch SWAT team for immediate action.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Acting on intelligence, police received a tip on Saturday that Balram and his associates were travelling in a grey Baleno with Delhi registration plates near Wave City, Dasna — potentially preparing to commit a crime.
The SWAT team, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Piyush Singh, laid a cordon in the Dasna area. At approximately 7:50 PM, the grey Baleno was spotted approaching near the peripheral underpass on the Dasna–Raghunathpur road.
When police signalled the vehicle to stop, the occupants opened fire on the officers. During the exchange:
- Piyush Singh and SWAT in-charge Inspector Anil Rajput had bullets strike their bulletproof jackets.
- Three other policemen sustained minor injuries.
Police returned fire in self-defence. One assailant was hit and fell, later identified as Balram Thakur, son of Shyam Singh, resident of Rogan in Bulandshahr district. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Balram succumbed to his injuries. The remaining gang members fled, prompting a combing operation to track them down.
Seized Evidence and Police Findings
At the encounter site, police recovered:
- Three firearms
- The mobile phone used for extortion calls
- Other potential criminal paraphernalia
Investigators highlighted that Balram had actively assumed leadership within Dujana’s gang, continuing extortion, abduction, and intimidation operations across Ghaziabad.
Gang’s Influence and Local Impact
The Anil Dujana gang, now partially dismantled by successive encounters, had maintained control through fear and intimidation. Balram’s rise represented the persistence of organised crime in the region, exploiting both social fear and local criminal networks.
Police officials noted that his bold extortion attempts reflected increasing audacity among gang members, targeting high-value businesses and displaying a willingness to commit violence.
The Ghaziabad Police emphasised that the SWAT operation serves as a strong deterrent, signalling that organised crime and extortion will be met with swift and decisive action.
#GhaziabadCrimeBranch #EncounterNews #BalramThakur #AnilDujanaGang #OrganisedCrime #SWATOperation #PoliceAction #Extortion #GangsterKilled #CrimeNews #UPPolice #LawAndOrder #GhaziabadNews
