Mastermind of Delhi 2008 bus loot held

New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) The mastermind of the sensational loot on a bus in the national capital in 2008 has been finally arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur after evading police for nearly a decade, police said on Wednesday.

Gaurav Sonkar, who hails from Kanpur, is a member of the Raju Hakla gang and a 'proclaimed offender', police said.

"He was arrested on Monday from his hideout in Kanpur following a tip-off," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhisham Singh.

Sonkar, along with his associates, had on May 4, 2008, robbed over 20 passengers in a moving bus in west Delhi's Mayapuri area after injuring them with knives.

He had been evading arrest since then and was declared a proclaimed offender in 2010 by a trial court. A cash reward of Rs 25,000 was announced for his arrest by then Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal, Singh said.

"During interrogation, Sonkar revealed that some ten years ago, he joined local criminals after his family shifted from Kanpur to Subzi Mandi area of Delhi.

"He initially started petty crimes and joined Raju Hakla gang of pickpocketers. The gang leader Raju Hakla is involved in more than 70 cases of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, under the Arms act and others in Nangloi, Sultanpuri and Mangolpuri," the officer added.

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