Gwalior: A police operation in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday led to the arrest of wanted gangster Kapil Yadav, who was shot in the leg after he allegedly opened fire at officers. Yadav, who had a reward of ₹10,000 on his arrest, had been hiding in a brick kiln located in the dense Bandha Bandholi forest near Mohanpur. Police said the encounter took place when he refused to surrender and fired at the approaching team.

Suspect refuses to surrender, opens fire at police

According to officials, police teams acting on specific intelligence surrounded the brick kiln where Yadav had taken shelter. When officers attempted to convince him to surrender, he allegedly opened fire with the intent to harm the police personnel. Acting in self-defence, police returned fire, injuring him in the leg. Yadav was immediately overpowered and taken into custody. He was later shifted to Murar Hospital for treatment, where he is currently under police guard. Legal procedures in the case have begun, and a detailed statement will be recorded once his condition stabilises.

Linked to recent attack over land dispute

Police said the gangster had been on the run since 21 November, when he and his associates allegedly attacked Vinod Bhadoriya and Puran Bhadoriya in the Murar area. The attack stemmed from a dispute over land belonging to the Ram Janki Trust. Both victims sustained serious injuries. Following the assault, a case of attempt to murder was registered, and a reward of ₹10,000 each was declared for the arrest of Kapil and his associates.

SSP Dharmveer Singh stated that Kapil has a criminal record and is involved in several serious cases, including murder and attempt to murder. He added that teams had been working continuously to trace him, with checkpoints and surveillance increased across sensitive locations.

Associate arrested earlier; police tracking led to encounter

On Saturday night, police arrested Yadav’s associate Aman Yadav from the Mela Ground area. He was held with a country-made pistol, cartridges, and a WagonR car. Kapil, who was also travelling in the same vehicle, managed to escape in the darkness. This triggered back-to-back search operations involving multiple police units.

Police relied on a network of informers to track Kapil’s movements. Based on a fresh tip-off received on Sunday, teams were deployed to the forest belt near Utilla, where he was believed to be hiding. During this operation, Kapil again attempted to escape by firing at officers, prompting the exchange that led to his capture.

Police strengthen operations against local criminal groups

The encounter has put the spotlight on increasing police action against criminal groups operating in and around Gwalior. According to SSP Singh, the department has intensified patrolling and is actively monitoring suspects involved in land disputes, extortion attempts, and gang-related activities. He emphasised that strict action will be taken against individuals who continue to disrupt law and order in the region.

Residents of Murar and nearby localities expressed relief after news of Kapil’s arrest, as the gangster had reportedly been threatening locals involved in land and property matters. Police said they will continue efforts to locate other associates linked to the Ram Janki Trust attack as part of the wider investigation.

Conclusion

The arrest of gangster Kapil Yadav marks a significant breakthrough for Gwalior Police, who have been pursuing him for days. With multiple cases against him and a recent attempt to murder charge, police say his detention will aid ongoing investigations. Authorities have assured that efforts will continue to dismantle criminal networks in the region and ensure safety for residents.