4 of ‘J&K’s Gatarau gang’ held in Meerut hideout

Meerut: Four alleged members of J&K’s Gatarau gang — wanted in cases of extortion, contract killing, dacoity, land grabbing and armed attacks — were arrested in a joint operation by the UP Special Task Force (STF) and J&K Police in Meerut around midnight on Tuesday.The arrested persons were identified as Saurabh Gupta, Gaurav Gupta and Rohit Balona, all residents of Vijaypur in Samba district, and Maaz Qureshi of Meerut, who allegedly sheltered them at his house in Sotiganj without informing police or completing tenant verification. Four mobile phones and a laptop were recovered from them.Additional SP, STF-Meerut, Brajesh Kumar Singh, said, “The joint operation was conducted following specific inputs from J&K police about the presence of wanted criminals in Meerut. The accused were traced to a hideout in Sotiganj and arrested with the help of local police. Further legal proceedings are being carried out by J&K police.”Police said Samba police alerted the Meerut STF on Oct 22. After confirming the location, a J&K team led by DSP Athar Bakshi reached Meerut and coordinated the arrests.The gang was founded by Sumit Gupta alias Gatarau, Saurabh’s brother. Police said it had a violent rivalry with the Vicky Khauf gang and a group led by Vikas Salathia. The three J&K residents are wanted in a Vijaypur case under the NDPS and Arms Acts. Their records also include cases of assault, robbery, rioting and criminal conspiracy.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Meerut | Silver Rate in Meerut | Bank Holidays in Meerut | Public Holidays in Meerut | Meerut AQI | Weather in Meerut | Petrol Price in Meerut | Diesel Price in Meerut | CNG Price in Meerut | LPG Price in MeerutStay updated with the latest Meerut news. Download the TOI App.