Haryana STF Secures Deportation of Notorious Gangster Sombir from United States
The Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana has successfully orchestrated the deportation of a feared gangster, Sombir alias Motta, from the United States, marking a significant breakthrough in a long-standing criminal investigation. Sombir, aged 39, was arrested upon his arrival in India after spending 17 months in a US detention center, following his escape from the country two years ago due to escalating gang violence.
Escape and International Manhunt
Fearing for his life amid a bloody and protracted gang rivalry in Karor village of Rohtak's Sampla area, Sombir fled India on January 3, 2024, from Mumbai airport to Bangkok. His brother, the notorious gangster Anil Chhippi, arranged his departure to avoid further attacks from members of the rival Chaju gang. After entering the United States in September 2024, Sombir was detained by a patrolling unit and remained in custody until his deportation, facilitated by coordinated efforts between Haryana STF and central agencies.
Fraudulent Passport and Criminal Network
Investigators revealed that Sombir fraudulently obtained a passport issued in the name of another individual, Sombir son of Ramniwas, a resident of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. He had been released on bail from a Haryana jail in 2022 and procured the forged passport in 2023. An FIR was registered on May 27, 2024, at IMT Rohtak police station under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Passport Act. His passport was subsequently revoked on August 14, 2024, by the regional passport office in Ghaziabad at STF Haryana's request.
Sombir is linked to high-profile criminal syndicates, including the Lawrence Bishnoi and Kala Jathedi gangs. He faces involvement in 26 criminal cases across multiple states, encompassing 10 murders, attempted murder, dacoity, and extortion in regions such as Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Delhi, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh. Notably, he participated in the 2014 murder of a Mainpal Badli gang member inside Bhondsi jail in Gurgaon.
International Travel and Red Corner Notice
After reaching Thailand, Sombir traveled to Dubai, where he stayed for approximately five months. With assistance from Haryana-based associates in Dubai, he secured a Spanish visa and moved to Spain before journeying to Nicaragua and eventually entering the United States. In response to his escape using the fake passport, a Red Corner Notice was issued in February 2024. STF SP Waseem Akram stated, "We will soon nab Motta's associates who helped him obtain a passport using forged documents and facilitated his travel to the US through the illegal route. We have identified the network. His details were shared with Interpol and other agencies."
Origins of Violent Gang Rivalry
The violent feud traces back to 2001 in Karor village, originating from an incident where a member of the Chaju family allegedly harassed a woman from the Chhippi family. After she informed Rame Chhippi, he and his associates confronted and assaulted members of the Chaju family. In retaliation, Chaju and his son Shri Bhagwan assaulted Rame. To avenge this, Rame and his associates killed Silkram, brother of Shri Bhagwan, igniting a cycle of retaliatory killings. In 2002, Shri Bhagwan's gang members killed Rame and his brother.
Following these murders, Rame's wife Roshni Devi fled the village with her two sons—Anil Chhippi and Sombir—who were then around 12 and 11 years old. Anil later became a bus conductor in Delhi but stabbed a person in 2009 and was incarcerated in Tihar jail. During his imprisonment, he met gangsters Kala Jathedi and Naresh Sethi, recounting the family's ordeal and the rivalry's origins. Jathedi pledged support to Chhippi, leading to an escalation in violence with a series of killings involving members and relatives of the rival groups. In 2023, a grandson of Chaju allegedly killed an associate of Anil Chhippi.
STF's Deportation Success and Broader Implications
SP Akram highlighted that Sombir's deportation represents the 10th major deportation by STF Haryana since 2025 and the third from the United States. Previous deportations include Lakhwinder Lakha of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang on October 25, 2025, Aman Bhainswal on January 7, 2026, and gangster Anmol Bishnoi on November 19, 2025, by national agencies. "The successful deportation of Sombir alias Motta underscores STF Haryana's coordinated efforts with national and international agencies to track, apprehend and repatriate fugitives involved in organised and violent crimes," Akram emphasized.
This case underscores the persistent challenges of gang violence in Haryana and the critical role of international cooperation in combating transnational crime. The STF's proactive measures in sharing intelligence with global agencies have proven effective in bringing notorious criminals to justice, reinforcing law enforcement's commitment to public safety.
