Vinay Tyagi, a notorious criminal and close associate of wanted gangster Badan Singh Baddo, was critically injured on Wednesday afternoon when bike-borne assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the police vehicle transporting him. The incident occurred in Laksar, Haridwar district, while Tyagi was being taken from Roorkee jail to a court appearance.

The Attack

The attack took place on a railway overbridge in Laksar where the police vehicle, a Tata Sumo, was stuck in a traffic jam. A team of six police personnel was escorting Tyagi. Taking advantage of the congestion, two masked assailants on a motorbike approached the vehicle and opened rapid fire.

Tyagi sustained three bullet wounds in the life-threatening assault. Two police personnel also suffered minor injuries during the incident. Following the attack, the shooters fled the scene in a cinematic style, brandishing their weapons.

Tyagi was rushed to a local facility and subsequently referred to AIIMS Rishikesh due to his critical condition.

Police Investigation And Gang War

Suspicions Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Haridwar, Pramendra Dobal, visited the hospital to question the injured criminal. SSP Dobal termed the attack "pre-planned" and stated that the possibility of a gang war or an old rivalry could not be ruled out.

Police have launched a combing operation in the Haridwar district to apprehend the shooters. A case has been registered against the attackers, and an investigation is underway.

Recent Arrests And Custody

Vinay Tyagi had been arrested by the Dehradun police on October 1 in connection with a theft case involving cash and jewellery worth lakhs. Before this, he was arrested by the Meerut police on June 4, 2024, in Krishna Nagar, Delhi, but was later released on bail.

Due to pre-existing cases registered against him in Haridwar, he was shifted to Roorkee jail on December 12.

A Long History Of Crime

Vinay Tyagi, also known as Tinkoo, is a history-sheeter at the Medical police station in Meerut. He is the son of Sevaram Tyagi, a retired CMS employee, and originally hails from Khaikhedi village under the Purkazi police station in Muzaffarnagar. He currently resides at House Number 139, Sector 1, JagritiVihar, Meerut. His wife, Nishi, is a former Block Pramukh of Purkazi.

Tyagi entered the world of crime at the age of 16 when he carried out a life-threatening assault on a classmate inside a classroom, for which he was sent to a juvenile correction home. Upon his release, he returned to crime and joined the Sharad Tyagi gang in 1985.

Tyagi has 46 cases registered against him for robbery, murder, and extortion across Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Haridwar, and Dehradun. He is a known associate of Badan Singh Baddo, who carries a bounty of Rs 250,000.

Key Crimes And Notoriety:

Arora Bakery Murder: He murdered the owner of Arora Bakery in Meerut for refusing to pay extortion money.

2005 Murder: Along with Badan Singh Baddo, Neeraj Bhati, and Dharmendra Sirohi, Tyagi shot and killed cable businessman and advocate Shailendra Pal in Pandavnagar.

2015 Gang Murders: He murdered Praveen Sharma and Rajiv Tirri, who were shooters for the Ajay Jadeja gang.

2016 Kidnapping: With the help of Mamta Masih, a woman working in spa therapy, he entrapped and abducted Manoj Gupta of Budhana Gate, Kotwali, demanding a ransom of Rs 1 crore.