Two Notorious ATM Looters from Mewat Nabbed After Late-Night Shootout in Delhi

In a dramatic turn of events late Wednesday night, Delhi Police apprehended two suspected ATM looters from Mewat, Haryana, following a tense gunfire exchange in the outskirts of South Delhi. The duo, believed to be part of a larger gang involved in multiple ATM heists across the National Capital Region, had been on the run for months.

The Night of the Encounter

The operation unfolded near the Pul Prahladpur area when police received a tip-off that two wanted suspects were planning to move through the region in a stolen vehicle. Acting swiftly, a special team was deployed to intercept them.

Around midnight, as the suspects approached a police checkpoint, they were signaled to stop. Instead, they attempted to ram through the barricade, triggering a high-speed chase. In a desperate bid to escape, the suspects opened fire on the officers. The police, trained for such high-pressure scenarios, retaliated with controlled fire.

During the brief encounter, one of the accused sustained a bullet injury in the leg, while the other was apprehended after a scuffle when their vehicle was disabled by a spike strip laid by officers ahead of the chase route.

Not Just Petty Thieves

Police sources reveal that the two arrested men are not new to the crime scene. Hailing from the crime-prone Mewat region, they are allegedly linked to over a dozen cases involving ATM thefts and armed robbery. Their modus operandi typically involved targeting ATMs located in poorly guarded or remote areas during the early morning hours, using gas cutters and stolen vehicles to flee before law enforcement could arrive.

Investigators have also recovered a country-made pistol, cartridges, and tools typically used for breaking into ATMs from their possession.

A Growing Pattern

ATM thefts have seen a spike in recent years, particularly with the rise of loosely organized criminal syndicates operating out of border districts like Mewat. These groups often exploit jurisdictional gaps between Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, making it challenging for local police to coordinate responses swiftly.

Senior police officials noted that these gangs often rely on swift mobility, use of unregistered or stolen vehicles, and minimal digital footprints to evade detection. The arrested duo, according to authorities, had managed to slip past police dragnets multiple times due to their knowledge of back routes and rural hideouts.

A Wake-Up Call

This latest arrest is being hailed as a significant breakthrough by the Delhi Police, not just for nabbing two seasoned criminals but for potentially cracking open a larger network of organized ATM thefts in the region. Investigations are underway to track down other members of the gang and uncover possible connections to interstate robberies.

A senior officer involved in the operation said, “These arrests didn’t happen overnight. Our teams have been tracking their movement for weeks. We had to be both patient and tactical. It’s a small but important win in a much larger battle against organized property crimes.”

What Comes Next

The injured suspect is currently under treatment at a government hospital under police watch, while the other is in custody and being interrogated. Police plan to seek extended remand to probe deeper into their past activities, financial trails, and any links to larger networks.

As urban centers grow and cash-based infrastructure like ATMs remains vulnerable, incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of crime in modern India. It also underscores the importance of inter-state policing efforts and the need for technology-driven surveillance systems to prevent such crimes proactively.

For now, the people of Delhi can breathe a little easier knowing that two more dangerous criminals are off the streets — thanks to timely intelligence and swift police action.