Following a brief exchange of fire, the Delhi Police Special Cell has busted a Mewat-based interstate criminal gang involved in ATM breakings.

The city police on Friday said the kingpin of the gang identified as Niyamat alias Ghoda was arrested by the Special Unit of the Delhi Police, which resulted in solving two cases of ATM breaking in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

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A Delhi Police official said that a semi-automatic pistol with two live rounds and a midsize SUV was recovered from the accused, who had come to Delhi’s Moti Bagh for recce of an ATM, which was supposedly on his hit list.

It was on March 5, that the police had an input regarding his arrival at Moti Bagh in view of conducting a recce of an ATM, and accordingly a trap was laid near the areas at around 11.30 at night.

He was identified and intercepted by the Southern Range team of Special Cell, and later apprehended following an exchange of fire, as he did not surrender initially to the police.

It has been revealed that the members of the gang used to identify unguarded ATM booths in less-lit and isolated areas, and thereafter, used to conduct a thorough reconnaissance of the area around the marked ATMs.

Later, finding an appropriate time, they used to wear masks, monkey caps and sprinkle black paint on the CCTV cameras after entering the ATM booths to conceal their identities.

The gang used to cut out the cash from the machines using gas cutters.

Members of the gang would use stolen SUVs like Creta, Scorpio and others and affix fake registration plates to execute crimes.

During interrogation, Niyamat disclosed about the heist in Bharuch by his gang on February 20, stealing Rs 3,52,000 and also looting Rs 26 lakh from an ATM in Nagar, Nandubaar, Maharashtra.

The police further said that he is a habitual offender and has previously been involved in seven criminal cases including ATM breakings and highway robbery in Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The remaining members of the gang have also been identified, and efforts are being made to nab them, while concerned state police officials have been informed about the arrest of the accused, a police official added.