Wanted Gangster's Covert Stay in Chandigarh Highlights Police Intelligence Gaps
In a significant security breach, Delhi Police's most-wanted gangster, Vikas Dahiya, also known as Sonu or Thekedar, managed to evade detection in Chandigarh for nearly three months by using a false identity and renting a house in Sector 38. This incident has starkly exposed critical weaknesses in the intelligence and surveillance capabilities of the Chandigarh Police force.
Arrest and Alleged Criminal Activities
The 42-year-old fugitive, who is wanted in multiple serious cases across four states, was finally apprehended by the Delhi Police crime branch following a covert operation conducted in Chandigarh a few days ago. Sources indicate that Dahiya was not merely hiding but was allegedly operating an illegal liquor supply network during his stay in the city. Investigators suspect he was smuggling liquor from Chandigarh to other states, particularly Gujarat, suggesting a potentially far-reaching interstate crime network operating unnoticed from within the city.
Background and Previous Crimes
A resident of Kharkhauda in Sonipat district, Dahiya has a violent criminal history. He was convicted of murder in 2010 and sentenced to life imprisonment. After securing bail, he allegedly shot and killed Vikas Dagar, alias Bhinda, a national-level gold medallist boxer, in Surakhpur, Delhi, in July 2025. Following the shooting on July 30, 2025, he fled and was declared a fugitive by a court on October 18, 2025. Two alleged accomplices, Sumit Rana alias Chhotu and Krishna Dahiya alias Maharaj, remain at large.
Police Investigation and Arrest Details
The Delhi Police crime branch had been pursuing Dahiya for nine months when they received a crucial lead about his girlfriend, who had relocated to Chandigarh. Acting on this tip-off, a specialized team discreetly entered the city and conducted reconnaissance over several days. Utilizing a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence, police identified a rented accommodation in Sector 38 where Dahiya was living under a false name. To avoid drawing attention, he maintained a deliberate distance from his girlfriend. His identity was ultimately confirmed by a distinct cut mark below his left eye.
Once conclusive evidence was gathered, the crime branch team raided the Sector 38 house and arrested Dahiya, who was subsequently transported to Delhi. A parallel raid in Zirakpur aimed at apprehending one of his associates was unsuccessful, as the suspect fled moments before police arrived.
Chandigarh Police's Intelligence Failures
Dahiya's prolonged presence in Chandigarh has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the local police apparatus. Despite having multiple specialized units, including the operation cell, crime branch, and district crime cell, along with 16 police stations and several police posts, the fugitive managed to slip through the net. Recently, two special inspectors were deployed in the operation cell specifically to monitor gangster movements, yet this elaborate setup failed to detect Dahiya, highlighting glaring intelligence lapses.
Historical Context of Criminal Hideouts in Chandigarh
This episode is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern where hardened criminals have used Chandigarh as a safe haven. In July 2018, dreaded gangster Dilpreet Singh Baba of the Bambiha gang was arrested after an encounter near ISBT-43, having lived in Sector 38 for eight months under a fake identity. Similarly, in June 2019, Punjab and UT police arrested two hardcore criminals, Gurbhej Singh and Vinod Kumar, who had been hiding in the Deep Complex area of Hallomajra despite being wanted in over a dozen serious cases.
The arrest of Vikas Dahiya underscores the urgent need for enhanced coordination and intelligence-sharing between police forces to prevent such security breaches in the future.
