I thought I would never be caught, says kingpin

CHANDIGARH, Nov 23: Twenty five-year-old Om Pal, better known as Saini, confesses that his obsession with firearms and lust for supremacy ov...

CHANDIGARH, Nov 23: Twenty five-year-old Om Pal, better known as Saini, confesses that his obsession with firearms and lust for supremacy over his peers, turned him from a small-time leader of a political outfit to a hardened criminal.

He says his foray into crime began when he lifted a scooter at the behest of his friend Kashmira 8212; a motor mechanic in 1994. Today, he is allegedly wanted in more than 25 criminal cases including an attempt to murder, dacoities, snatchings, thefts and burglaries in the City and Karnal. 8220;I was planning to loot shops in Sector 17 at gun-point but I did not find the right partner 8212; someone as brave as I am. I can even kill if need be,8221; he says plainly.

8220;Our family came to the City from Pathankot and settled in the Kumhar Colony in Sector 25 about nine years ago. There were groups among boys in the Colony and we would often end up in fights. I was the leader of my group,8221; he recalls. Saini8217;s further revelations are both startling and scary: 8220;Soon we all grew up and took to crimes like snatching and robbing in the area. As most of these incidents went unreported, we spread our operations to other parts of Chandigarh, especially the villages. Today, there are five gangs active in crimes like robberies, snatching and selling drugs8221;.

Saini says his 8220;supremacy8221; over the other gangs began when he acquired a pistol from UP. 8220;I was in Delhi working with a truck driver who took me to his home in UP. He showed me some pistols that were made there and I stole one for myself. I came back and drove out another gang in the Colony. Then in a fight in Sector 39, I fired at an opponent. Today, I am the most dreaded in Sectors 25, 24, 38 and Dadu Majra,8221; he proclaims.

After he was arrested in a case of theft in April 1995, Saini says he met Sagar, who was facing murder charges, in the jail. 8220;In jail I read about incidents in which robbers struck in Punjab impersonating as police commandos and thought of doing the same in Chandigarh,8221; he says. Police say Saini jumped bail in October that year and continued to evade arrest to date. 8220;I made several trips to UP acquired more arms, bought police uniforms from Ambala and prepared a fresh gang of eight boys. The whole process took us about an year and then we struck in succession8221;.

8220;I thought I would never get caught. In fact we would not have if I had the right men. Someone as brave as me,8221; he declares.