A notorious criminal with a long history of offenses who was once a prominent member of the gang led by Shariq Satha and is suspected to have played a significant role in the violent incidents that took place in Sambhal last year has been apprehended by the police, according to officials.
The accused, identified as Dilip alias Harish, has been actively involved in criminal activities for over three decades. Over the years, he built a reputation as a seasoned offender and was known for his expertise in vehicle theft. Due to his continued involvement in criminal operations, the authorities had placed a bounty of ₹25,000 on his capture.
One of the major incidents in which Dilip was allegedly involved occurred on November 24 of the previous year when large-scale violence broke out in Sambhal. The clashes resulted in the deaths of four civilians. The violence erupted during a court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, which is located in the Kot Garvi area of the city. The survey had been ordered by a local court as part of an ongoing case that stemmed from a petition claiming that the mosque stood on the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple that had allegedly been demolished during the Mughal era.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar Bishnoi addressed the media regarding the arrest and provided further details about the operation. He stated, “As part of our relentless crackdown on crime and criminals, a dedicated team from the Asmoli police station has successfully apprehended a fugitive offender who had been evading arrest and was carrying a cash reward of ₹25,000 on his head.”
The police revealed that Dilip had been deeply entrenched in organized crime for many years. He had been actively involved in the theft of vehicles since as far back as 1993. To avoid detection and capture, he repeatedly altered his details, including his name and his father’s name, which enabled him to commit crimes across multiple states while staying under the radar of law enforcement agencies.
The SP further elaborated on Dilip’s criminal activities, stating, “From 1993 onward, he operated as a professional auto-lifter, specializing in stealing vehicles, particularly four-wheelers. He had been systematically targeting vehicles across multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Once stolen, the vehicles were then smuggled and sold in far-off locations such as Nagaland, West Bengal, and Siliguri.”
Authorities revealed that Dilip remained actively associated with Shariq Satha’s gang up until the year 2020. However, following increased pressure from law enforcement agencies and intensified crackdowns on criminal networks, he went into hiding and operated independently. Despite being on the run for a prolonged period of four years, the police maintained efforts to track him down. Eventually, a breakthrough in the investigation led to his capture by the Asmoli police team.
His arrest marks a significant success in the police force’s continued efforts to dismantle organized crime networks and bring long-standing offenders to justice. The authorities are now conducting further investigations into Dilip’s past offenses and potential links to other criminal activities. His arrest is expected to aid in uncovering further details regarding stolen vehicle syndicates and the involvement of other individuals in similar crimes.
