The Ratlam police in Madhya Pradesh gunned down Dilip Deval, the main accused of a triple murder and robbery that rocked the city last week, in an encounter late on Thursday night.
Five policemen including two sub-inspectors were also injured during the encounter and were undergoing treatment at the district hospital, Ratlam superintendent of police Gaurav Tiwari told mediapersons.
Deval, 38, who hailed from Dahod in neighbouring Gujarat was also wanted for another murder in Ratlam city six months ago and was accused of two more murders in Dahod earlier.
Ratlam police had identified him as the mastermind or main accused in the murders of Govind Solanki, 50, his wife Sharda, 45 and daughter Divya, 21, in Rajiv Nagar locality of the city on November 25. While three of his accomplices involved in the triple murder and robbery were arrested by the police on Wednesday, Deval had remained absconding.
On Thursday night, police got information that Deval was moving from Khachrod Naka towards his Mid Town residence. “The police party spotted him. Since he was a hardened criminal and was known to keep weapons, the police party issued a warning to him. But, Deval opened fire at and police fired back in self-defence and in the course the accused was killed,” the SP said.
Among the five injured cops are sub-inspectors Ayub Khan and Anurag Yadav, Tiwari added.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted late on Thursday night to confirm the encounter of Deval and commended the cops for their action. “I had given strict instructions to the police that such a monstrous human had no right to live in the society and he should be arrested as soon as possible. When the police team accosted him, he fired at them and our brave cops retaliated suitably. Some of our policemen have also been injured in the encounter. I pray for their quick recovery. Thanks to the entire police team on behalf of Madhya Pradesh. The state will again sleep in peace today because you are our protectors,” the CM tweeted.
The Ratlam police had got breakthrough in the triple murder and robbery committed a week ago after going through the CCTV footages in the vicinity. On the basis of investigation, three accused Anurag alias Bobby Parmar, 25, a resident of Vinoba Nagar, Ratlam, Golu alias Gaurav Bilwal, 22, a resident of Railway Colony Ratlam, and Lala Bhabhor, 20, a resident of village Abhlod of Dahod district in Gujarat were arrested on December 2.
Interrogation revealed Dilip Deval to be the mastermind of the crime, SP Gaurav Tiwari had told media persons earlier, adding that he was a psychopath who would kill the victims of robbery so that no witnesses were left behind. A reward of Rs 30,000 was announced on him.
Police said that Deval had befriended Govind Solanki, who owned a hair salon and after getting information of the small family, planned the robbery for the evening of November 25, as Chhoti Diwali festival fell on the day and the accused thought that the noise of guns will be camouflaged by the crackers.
After entering the house, Deval, Parmar and Bhabhor first gunned down Sharda and then Divya and as they were leaving the house with looted booty, Govind returned and was shot dead too. Fourth accused Bilwal had kept a watch outside, police said.
Probe revealed that Deval was also involved in the murder of senior citizen Premkunwar Sisodia in Manish Nagar locality of the city five months ago. Two of his other accomplices were involved in this killing and were also arrested by Ratlam police on Wednesday.
Deval has committed two more murders in Dahod earlier and was out on parole when he killed four people in Ratlam in two incidents, police sources said.
