Delhi Police rescue kidnapped minor, arrest 4 proclaimed offenders in South-West ops
Synopsis
A Delhi Police team covered over 5,000 kilometres to rescue a kidnapped 14-year-old girl from Govindpur Mandi in Punjab and nab a proclaimed offender with a ₹20,000 reward — while a separate patrol simultaneously caught three alleged Thak-Thak gang members from Tamil Nadu, all with long-pending court warrants.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested four proclaimed offenders in separate operations on 20 October 2026 in the south-western district.
A kidnapped 14-year-old girl was rescued from Govindpur Mandi, Punjab , during the operation targeting Chotu Kashyap .
Three accused — Sunder Raj, Log Nathan , and Rukman — are alleged members of the Thak-Thak gang , all from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu .
Sunder Raj had prior involvement in 12 criminal cases ; Log Nathan was wanted in four cases .
The team chasing Chotu Kashyap covered approximately 5,000 kilometres using technical surveillance and human intelligence.
A reward of ₹20,000 had been announced for information leading to Kashyap's arrest.
Delhi Police on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, rescued a kidnapped 14-year-old girl and arrested four proclaimed offenders in coordinated operations by teams from the Bhikaji Cama Place police post, R.K. Puram police station, and Sarojini Nagar police station of the south-western district. The arrests came after sustained intelligence-led field operations spanning multiple states.
The Accused and Their Backgrounds
The four individuals arrested were identified as Sunder Raj, 49, Log Nathan alias N. Loganathan, 36, and Rukman, 49 — all residents of Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu — and Chotu Kashyap, 29. Courts had declared all four proclaimed offenders through separate orders dated February 3, 2017, March 5, 2025, October 15, 2025, and July 6 respectively.
Thak-Thak Gang Members Caught During Patrolling
In the first operation, a team from R.K. Puram police station — comprising Sub-Inspector Satyender Gulia, Head Constables Kuldeep, Ramphool, and Indraj, and Constable Lokesh — apprehended Sunder Raj, Log Nathan, and Rukman during routine area patrolling. The team operated under Station House Officer Yashpal Singh and the supervision of ACP Vasant Vihar Babbar Bhan.
Police noticed the three men moving suspiciously and detained them for verification, which revealed all three had outstanding proclaimed offender warrants. Sunder Raj, previously implicated in 12 criminal cases, had been declared a proclaimed offender in FIR No. 336/2017 under Sections 379, 411, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Kotwali police station. Log Nathan was named in four cases, including FIR No. 28/2015 under Sections 379, 411 and 34 of the IPC. Rukman was wanted in FIR No. 230/2018 under Sections 379, 401, 411 and 34 of the IPC at Nabi Karim police station. The three are allegedly members of the Thak-Thak gang, a group known for targeting motorists.
Minor Girl Rescued from Punjab After 5,000-km Hunt
In a separate operation, the Sarojini Nagar police station traced and arrested Chotu Kashyap, against whom a reward of ₹20,000 had been announced. He was wanted in FIR No. 450/2025 under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A team comprising Sub-Inspector Deepak and Head Constables Amarjeet, Mukesh and Ajeet worked under SHO Atul Tyagi and ACP S.J. Enclave Melvyn Verghese.
After covering approximately 5,000 kilometres through sustained field operations combining human intelligence and technical surveillance, the team traced Kashyap to Govindpur Mandi in Punjab. Critically, police also recovered the kidnapped 14-year-old girl from the same location, bringing the operation to a significant close.
How the Operations Were Conducted
According to officials, dedicated teams were constituted specifically to trace proclaimed offenders, absconders, and other wanted criminals evading legal proceedings. The units gathered both technical and human intelligence, activated local sources, conducted field verification, and executed targeted raids. This approach — blending technology with ground-level informant networks — is increasingly central to Delhi Police's anti-absconder strategy in its south-western district.
What Happens Next
All four accused have been taken into custody and are being processed through formal legal channels. Relevant case information has been shared with the police stations concerned in their respective cases. The rescued minor is expected to be reunited with her family, with further proceedings to follow as per applicable child protection protocols.
Point of View
But the operational detail — 5,000 kilometres across state lines, combining technical and human intelligence — points to a structural upgrade in how Delhi Police's south-western district is pursuing absconders. The simultaneous detention of three alleged Thak-Thak gang members from Tamil Nadu during routine patrolling is a reminder that proclaimed offender lists carry names that have sometimes evaded courts for nearly a decade; Log Nathan's warrant dates to 2017. The deeper question is systemic: with courts issuing proclaimed offender orders, the gap between judicial declaration and actual arrest remains wide, and closing it depends almost entirely on police initiative rather than formal extradition-like mechanisms.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was rescued in the Delhi Police operation on 20 October 2026?
A kidnapped 14-year-old girl was rescued by Delhi Police from Govindpur Mandi in Punjab during the operation. She was recovered from the same location where proclaimed offender Chotu Kashyap was apprehended.
Who are the four proclaimed offenders arrested by Delhi Police?
The four arrested individuals are Sunder Raj (49), Log Nathan alias N. Loganathan (36), and Rukman (49) — all from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu — and Chotu Kashyap (29). All had been declared proclaimed offenders by courts in separate cases.
What is the Thak-Thak gang?
The Thak-Thak gang is a criminal group known for targeting motorists, typically by distracting them and stealing valuables. Three of the four arrested — Sunder Raj, Log Nathan, and Rukman — are allegedly members of this gang and were caught during patrolling in Delhi.
How did police trace and arrest Chotu Kashyap?
A Sarojini Nagar police team covered approximately 5,000 kilometres using sustained field operations, human intelligence, and technical surveillance before tracing Kashyap to Govindpur Mandi in Punjab. A reward of ₹20,000 had been announced for his arrest.
What charges are the accused facing?
The accused face multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code, including theft, receiving stolen property, and cheating. Chotu Kashyap is wanted under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Courts had issued proclaimed offender orders between 2017 and 2025.
