Delhi murder accused arrested after gunfight near Signature Bridge
Synopsis
The prime suspect in a northeast Delhi gang murder was arrested only after a 14-round gunfight near Signature Bridge — with one bullet stopped only by a policeman's bulletproof jacket. The arrest exposes an active gang rivalry between the Haroon and Durrani networks that has already claimed at least one life and drawn in two juveniles as alleged shooters.
Key Takeaways
Haroon , prime accused in the Dayalpur murder of drinking water supplier Rashid , was arrested on 23 June near Khajuri Khas Signature Bridge , northeast Delhi.
Police and the accused exchanged a total of 14 rounds during the operation; one bullet was stopped by a policeman's bulletproof jacket.
Haroon sustained a gunshot wound to his leg before being overpowered and taken for medical treatment.
The killing is attributed to a long-standing rivalry between the Haroon gang and the Naseem Durrani criminal network, according to Special CP (Crime) HGS Dhaliwal .
A total of four others — two adults and two juveniles — had already been arrested in the case before Tuesday's encounter.
FSL and Crime Team officials examined the encounter site; interrogation of Haroon is expected to map the gang's wider network.
The prime accused in the killing of Rashid, a drinking water supplier shot dead in northeast Delhi's Dayalpur area, was arrested on Tuesday, 23 June following a gunfight with police near Khajuri Khas Signature Bridge. According to police, a total of 14 rounds were exchanged during the operation before the suspect was overpowered.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence about the suspect's movements, a team from the Northeast Delhi District Special Staff laid an intercept near Signature Bridge. When officers asked the accused to surrender, he allegedly opened fire on the police team, triggering a retaliatory exchange.
During the encounter, one bullet struck a policeman's bulletproof jacket, averting a potentially serious injury. The accused, identified as Haroon — described by police as a key member of the Haroon gang — sustained a gunshot wound to his leg before being overpowered and taken into custody. He was subsequently shifted for medical treatment.
Crime Team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials later reached the site to collect evidence and examine the scene.
Background: The Dayalpur Murder
Rashid was shot dead inside his shop in Dayalpur by three armed assailants earlier in the week. According to Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) HGS Dhaliwal, Rashid was allegedly associated with gangster Naseem Durrani and his criminal network. Preliminary investigations and local intelligence indicated the killing stemmed from a long-standing rivalry between the Durrani and Haroon gangs.
Earlier Arrests in the Case
Prior to Tuesday's encounter, Dayalpur Police had arrested two accused allegedly involved in the murder based on technical surveillance and corroborating evidence. Separately, the Crime Branch apprehended two juveniles suspected to be shooters linked to the Anwar Thakur-Haroon gang.
A special team led by Inspectors Man Singh and Sunder Gautam had been constituted specifically to track down the assailants following the murder.
What Happens Next
With the prime accused now in custody and undergoing treatment, investigators are expected to interrogate Haroon to establish the full chain of command behind the killing and map the gang's wider network. The FSL findings from the encounter site will likely form a key part of the evidentiary record in the case.
Point of View
But the broader picture is troubling: a gang rivalry mature enough to deploy juvenile shooters and sustain a 14-round urban encounter points to organised criminal infrastructure in northeast Delhi that goes well beyond a single murder case. The involvement of two juveniles as alleged shooters in the Anwar Thakur-Haroon network signals a recruitment pipeline that law enforcement has yet to disrupt at its roots. Closing the Rashid case is one thing; dismantling the network is another — and Tuesday's encounter, dramatic as it was, only addresses the former.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Haroon and why was he arrested?
Haroon is described by Delhi Police as a key member of the Haroon gang and the prime suspect in the murder of Rashid, a drinking water supplier shot dead in Dayalpur, northeast Delhi. He was arrested on 23 June following a gunfight with police near Khajuri Khas Signature Bridge in which 14 rounds were exchanged.
What happened during the encounter near Signature Bridge?
Police laid an intercept based on specific intelligence about Haroon's movements. When asked to surrender, he allegedly opened fire; officers retaliated in self-defence. One bullet struck a policeman's bulletproof jacket without causing injury, while Haroon was shot in the leg and subsequently overpowered.
Why was Rashid killed in Dayalpur?
According to Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) HGS Dhaliwal, Rashid was allegedly associated with gangster Naseem Durrani's criminal network. Preliminary investigations suggest the killing stemmed from a long-standing rivalry between the Durrani and Haroon gangs.
How many people have been arrested in the Dayalpur murder case so far?
Five people have been arrested in connection with the case: Haroon (the prime accused, arrested on 23 June), two adults arrested earlier by Dayalpur Police on the basis of technical surveillance, and two juveniles apprehended by the Crime Branch as suspected shooters linked to the Anwar Thakur-Haroon gang.
What happens next in the investigation?
Investigators are expected to interrogate Haroon to establish the full chain of command and map the gang's wider network. FSL findings from the encounter site will form part of the evidentiary record, and a special team led by Inspectors Man Singh and Sunder Gautam continues to pursue remaining suspects.
