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At least four people, including gangster Jitender Mann, alias Jitender Gogi, were killed in a shootout at Delhi's Rohini court premises on Friday, 24 September.
According to Delhi Police, assailants opened fire at Gogi, who had been brought to the court for a hearing. Gogi was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to the injuries.
Three attackers were also shot dead by the police. The attackers had been dressed as lawyers, according to news agency ANI.
The Joint Commissioner of Police for northern range will conduct an inquiry into the incident and will submit a report, the Delhi Police said.
Crime Branch to Probe, CJI Expresses Concern
Speaking to news agency ANI on Friday, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said that the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch for a thorough investigation, to find out how such an incident happened.
One of the attackers had been carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 upon his head, he noted.
Meanwhile, CJI NV Ramana also expressed 'deep concerns' over the shooting at incident. Speaking to the chief justice of Delhi High Court, he advised him to call upon the police and the Bar to ensure the functioning of court is not affected.
What Had Happened
According to India Today, the incident happened in Rohini court number 206 when Gogi was being presented before the judge.
Gogi was in jail and had been arrested by Delhi Police special cell in 2019.
Speaking to the The Hindustan Times, the police indicated that the assailants were suspected to be belonging to Gogi's rival gang, which is headed by one Sunil, alias, Tillu Tajpuriya.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh wrote in Hindi on Twitter, "Home Minister Amit Shah, where are you? Such a big incident in the capital of the country. Bullets echo in the temple of justice."
Delhi Bar Council Vice Chairman Meets Delhi CP for Security Review
Meanwhile, Delhi Bar Council vice-chairperson Rakesh Sherawat reached Delhi Police Headquarters on Friday to meet Delhi CP Rakesh Asthana and deliberated over the security review after the attack.
Following the meeting, he spoke to ANI and said, "Had a detailed discussion over security lapse and raised issues such as the metal detectors not working, camera not working, non-vigilant security staff."
Saying that the CP responded positively, Sherawat asserted that they have been assured of an update of the entire security system within a week.
Sherawat and the CP are scheduled to meet again, the Chairman told ANI.
'Major Security Lapse'
Stating that the issue of the shootout will be taken up in an urgent meeting with the Delhi commissioner of police, Rakesh Sherawat had earlier said:
"Incident (shootout) at Rohini Court is a major security lapse. We condemn it. Such incidents have been repeatedly happening, court security is at stake. Despite raising this issue to Delhi CP, no concrete step has been taken."
"In view of the call by Coordination Committee of all District Court Bar Association of Delhi, working in the court will be suspended due to revision of security norms on account of today's incident in Rohini Court," a Delhi Bar Association statement read.
Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana told NDTV that the security lapse will be probed. "Yes, there was a security lapse. And we will definitely look into it. And will take appropriate action," he said.
"Right now, let the things be investigated. I assure you, I will not tolerate this lapse. Action will be taken against those responsible for the security of the court," Asthana added.
Once Touted as 'Delhi's Most Wanted Criminal', Who Is Jitender Gogi?
In 2017, the Haryanvi singer Harshita Dahiya had been shot dead by four men. The murder operation had been led by Jitender Gogi.
Gogi, a friend of Dahiya's brother-in-law, had commanded the group of four accused in the murder case, The Indian Express had reported.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Panipat) Desh Raj had told the daily that Dahiya's brother-in-law had "met Gogi in Tihar Jail during 2013-15, when the two were arrested for separate crimes. They eventually joined hands to take revenge from their rivals."
Gangster Gogi had reportedly taken to the life of crime in 2010, and had since been involved in murder, carjacking, land-grabbing, and extortion, among others.
According to The Indian Express, Gogi, who had prominently been involved in smuggling of arms around the Delhi-Haryana border, had taken the place of 'Delhi's most wanted criminal' after the arrest of gangster Sonu Dariyapur.
Gogi is also known for his long-running rivalry with another gang leader Sunil, alias Tillu Tajpuriya, which has been traced back to their time together at Delhi University's Swami Shraddhanand College in 2010. In 2017, Gogi had killed Devender, alias Pradhan, an associate of Sunil's, as per The Indian Express.
A gang member of Gogi's group had also killed former AAP candidate Virendra Mann in 2019.
Before he was arrested in 2019, Gogi had reportedly been on the run, evading the police since he fled while being conducted to a court in Haryana’s Jind in July 2016.
(With inputs from ANI, The Indian Express, and India Today.)
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