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New Delhi: Thieves robbery bid goes wrong, two chain snatchers completely unaware of the imminent danger in Delhi targeted the wrong person at the entrance of Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri on Saturday evening. The snatchers targeted a jogger but had no idea that the latter was not an ordinary person, but a decorated Delhi Police officer and an encounter specialist. Firstly, the duo tried to take away the cop’s chain but failed. Then they pointed a pistol on the cop and threatened to shoot him. On gunpoint, they broke his chain and tried to flee.
On a normal day, this would have been dismissed as just another attempt at snatching. However, this particular incident unfolded in a completely unexpected way. The intended victim was none other than Vinod Badola, a high-ranking encounter specialist of the Special Cell of Delhi Police, who also had expertise in Krav Maga.
Events changed rapidly and within a few seconds the tables were turned. Despite being unarmed and wearing a tracksuit, Badola took the bold decision to face the armed snatchers alone.
A tense and exciting drama unfolded when Badola chased the snatchers on foot and a fierce fight broke out between them. Despite the odds stacked against him, the officer fearlessly engaged one of the attackers and eventually overpowered him and disarmed him. However, the second culprit took advantage of the opportunity and fled from the spot while Badola maintained control over his accomplice.
Without any hesitation, Badola immediately contacted PCR by dialing 112 to alert them about the situation. Undaunted by the escape of one criminal, he stood firm and coordinated with the local police to capture the other criminal. Despite the criminal attempting to blend into the crowd of pedestrians and taking refuge near a fountain, he was successfully located and captured.
DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla confirmed that the two snatchers were identified as Gaurav from Sarojini Nagar and Pawan Dev from a slum cluster on Tughlaq Road. Both individuals have been charged under severe sections of robbery with an intent to cause harm.
The 48-year-old Delhi Police officer Vinod Badola has undertaken several high-profile operations and encounters in the national capital. In October 2013, Badola and his team tracked down gangster Nitu Dabodia, who was terrorising city’s businessmen. The gangster was gunned down in an encounter by Badola’s team near a five-star hotel in south Delhi.
Subsequently, Badola was also involved in several anti-terror operations and one of the ops also earned him the coveted Union Home Minister’s Special Operations Medal. Badola, along with his team, also uncovered a modus operandi of a Taliban-backed cartel using the land route from Afghanistan through Iran and then via sea to the ports of western India for narcotics smuggling. Around 330 kg of heroin worth Rs 1,320 crore was seized. It turned out to be the biggest recovery in Delhi Police’s history at the time.
