Overview

• The interception followed a September 16 complaint from a transport businessman who reported a July 9 demand of Rs 25 lakh and a July 13 abduction that ended with a payment of about Rs 2 lakh plus jewellery.
• Officers said they tried to stop a car near Dasna around 7:50 pm, the suspects opened fire, three policemen were injured, and Balram was hit in retaliatory fire before being declared dead at a hospital.
• Police identified the deceased as Balram alias Guru, 50, a resident of Rogan village in Bulandshahr who allegedly assumed a key role in the network after Anil Dujana’s death.
• He was wanted in roughly 34 FIRs for offences including murder, loot, extortion and kidnapping, and carried a Rs 50,000 reward.
• Investigators link him to WhatsApp extortion threats to traders in Masuri, Sihani Gate and Kavi Nagar demanding Rs 25–50 lakh, while a search is underway for accomplices who fled.