In a major success, the Delhi Police has arrested a 32-year-old national-level wrestler-turned arms dealer from Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat after an eight-year hunt, an officer said on Saturday.
The accused named Sonu Langada alias Pahalwan was involved in several serious crimes. The police said that he turned to supplying illegal arms to criminals after his leg was amputated in a road accident. He was nabbed after being on the run for nearly eight years.
He was arrested in connection with the murder of a cable operator. On May 29, the police arrested Sonu Langada was from his native village in Baghpat, the officer said. He was declared a proclaimed offender on June 29, 2017, in connection with an arms supply case.
Langada has a history of involvement in at least six serious cases, including murder, rape, kidnapping, dacoity, and under the SC/ST Act, Arms Act, and excise violations, across police stations in Uttar Pradesh, the officer added.
On April 6, 2016, a cable operator was murdered. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Apoorva Gupta said that the Crime Branch had received inputs that two individuals named Rahul alias Sunny and Vikas alias Vicky, suspected of murdering the cable operator, were planning a retaliatory attack in Rohini.
The police nabbed both suspects and confiscated a pistol, a country-made firearm, and 10 bullets in their possession. Upon interrogation, they gave up Sonu Langada as the supplier of the arms under grilling, DCP Apoorva said.
For eight years, Langada managed to dodge police, till he was traced to his village, the DCP added.
During interrogation, he told the police about his accident and how he joined the criminal world to support his family.
“He aligned with local gangs and became an active player in the illicit arms trade, also supplying liquor to various criminal networks,” she added.