Meerut: The Uttar Pradesh police's special task force, which was on the lookout for a gangster, who was released from jail just weeks ago and unleashed a reign of terror in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana; killed him in a shoot-out in Meerut on Thursday.
Anil Dujana is wanted in 60 criminal cases and unleashed a reign of terror in Noida, Ghaziabad and other areas in Delhi, police said. He began threatening one of the key witnesses in the murder case filed against him and plotted to kill the witness, cops said. The police said Dujana and his gang were hiding at a location surrounded by tall bushes, in the Meerut village. The gang fired at the STF operatives who returned fire immediately killing him.
With a criminal record spanning over five decades, Anil had established a prominent standing in the world of crime for the past 21 years. However, on Thursday, the UP STF, celebrating their 25th anniversary, engaged in a confrontation with Anil Dujana resulting in his demise. Anil, also known as Anil Nagar, had become a notorious criminal, accumulating over 60 charges of murder, robbery, and kidnapping, stemming from his first offence of bicycle theft.
Anil Nagar, who later became notorious as Anil Dujana, was born in Dujana village in the Badalpur police station area of Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The village had a history of notoriety, with a criminal named Sunder Nagar, aka Sunder Daku, being the most feared person in the area in the 1970s. After being arrested several times, Sunder Daku was killed in a police encounter.
Years later, Anil Nagar grew up in the same village and started his criminal career with a bicycle theft charge. He was jailed for it, and during his time in prison, he decided to become a gangster. He removed "Nagar" from his name and added "Dujana," the name of his village, to his surname. After his release from jail, he became a notorious criminal, with more than 60 criminal cases registered against him, including 18 murders, land grabbing, extortion, and Arms Act violations.
Journey into the badass world of UP's badland
Western Uttar Pradesh was a hotbed of gang violence, and Anil Dujana became one of the most wanted criminals in Delhi, Haryana besides Uttar Pradesh He was involved in gang wars, rivalries, and murders. In 2004, Naresh Bhati, another gangster from western UP, was killed by mafia Sundar Bhatia, despite heavy security. Naresh's younger brother Randeep vowed to avenge his brother's death, and his uncle Amit Kasana recruited Anil Dujana to help. The trio tried to kill Sundar Bhati at his sister-in-law's wedding in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, in November 2011, but Bhati managed to escape. Three people were killed in the incident.
Dujana's photograph in a bulletproof vest became popular among criminals of his ilk in the state. The police arrested Anil Dujana after the triple murder, but not in the case of Sundar Bhati's murder. Instead, he was named as an accused in the murder of Khedigaon Jaichand, who was killed by bullets on November 22, 2011. Anil Dujana started operating his gang from jail and became the kingpin of the underworld in western UP.
His rise to power was not without its challenges. He had to contend with rival gangs and police pressure. In 2017, the UP police launched an operation to catch him, and after a month-long chase, he was killed in an encounter in the village of Pachli Khurd in Meerut. His death was a major blow to the criminal underworld in western UP, and his gang members scattered.
Anil Dujana's case is one of poverty, crime, and violence. He was born into a village with a history of notoriety and grew up in a region where gang violence was rampant. He started his criminal career with a minor offense but quickly escalated to more serious crimes, including murder. He became a kingpin of the underworld in western UP and was one of the most wanted criminals in the region. His life ended in a violent encounter with the police, bringing an end to a reign of terror that had lasted for years.
The story of Anil Dujana is a cautionary tale of how poverty and lack of opportunities can lead to a life of crime and violence. It also highlights the importance of law enforcement in curbing criminal activities and maintaining law and order. The police's efforts to catch Anil Dujana and put an end to his reign of terror show that the law can prevail even in the face of powerful criminal networks.
