Surendranagar police encountered a gangster with as many as 86 offences registered against him along with his 18 years old son. They were encountered in the Gediya village of Patdi taluka in Surendranagar district on Saturday night.
The deceased were identified as Hanif Khan Jat Malek (44) and his son, Madin Hanif Khan Jat Malek. Deputy superintendent of police, HP Joshi informed the media that both Hanif and Madin died in an encounter when a team headed by the police sub-inspector VM Jadeja went to the village to arrest Hanif.
Hanif was wanted in several cases including one under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organized Crime (GujCTOC) Act.
“Hanif had fired three shots at the police team which came to nab him, while his son Madin had attacked them with a dharia (bill hook). Two cops were injured in the bill hook attack. In retaliation, cops fired three rounds in which Hanif and Madin were killed,” Joshi said.
He further said that the bodies of both father and son have been sent for a forensic panel postmortem at the Surendranagar civil hospital.
Hanif was one of the three absconding criminals in Surendranagar wanted in the GujCTOC case. The police said that Hanif was member of a notorious gang, known as Gediya gand that had targeted trucks on the highways. The gang used to steal goods from the moving trucks and assault the drivers of the vehicle on the highway.
Offences against Hanif included murder, attempt to murder, attack on police, theft, to name a few. The Gediya gang members have over 125 cases registered against them in at least seven districts, said Joshi.
“Hanif’s wife Bilkis, his brother Rashid Khan, brother-in-law Wasim Khan and cousin Ajrat Khan are all in jail for offence registered under the GujCTOC Act,” added Joshi.
However, Hanif’s family members have claimed that the police had deliberately shot him. Hanif’s daughter said that her brother Madin, killed in the encounter was a 16-year old, minor.
“We will not accept the bodies till we get justice,” said Simran and Rinku, Hanif’s niece.
