Gujarat’s most wanted ‘Anna’ killed in encounter

Nair had been brought here on a transfer warrant from Mehsana police three days back in connection with the murder of local bootleger Deepak Patel in April. He was being taken by an escort team, led by Inspector P.P. Pradhan, from Olpaad to Vyara after he confessed to having hidden some weapons at Borakhadi village, around 4.30 am.

En route, at around 6.20 am, the van was stopped as Nair wanted to urinate. He was assisted by Head Constable Prakash Raghunath and a constable. Nair grabbed the head constable’s revolver, fired a round and kicked the constable before fleeing. Inspector Pradhan and two SI’s who were standing nearby, fired three shots at Nair. The first bullet hit him on his head, second in the chest and the third in his stomach, killing him on the spot.

Wanted for crimes ranging from contract killing to dacoity to vehicle theft, 38-year-old Nair had served the Indian Army for 10 years before committing his first crime in 1994 — robbing a petrol pump in Surat.

Thereafter, there were a series of crimes and an equal number of arrests. In 1998, Subhash was booked by the Vyarra police under the Arms Act. The same year he was also arrested for vehicle thefts. In 1999, he was arrested by the Surat police in connection with a petrol pump loot but he escaped while being taken to court.

In 2000, he was arrested by the Naroda police for illegal possession of firearms and vehicle thefts. In 2002, he was again arrested for the same crime by the Odhav police.

On January 6, 2003, Subhash carried out a contract killing of former Daman MP Kalidas Patel. In March 2003, he looted an angadia firm of cash and valuables worth Rs 5 lakh in Mehsana. A month later, he conducted a dacoity in Vijapur town, Mehsana.

In August 2003, Subhash was arrested by the Vatva police after he attempted to kill one of his former associates with a sword near Narol. In April 2004, he killed notorious bootlegger of Surat, Deepak Patel.