New Delhi, Dec 20 : The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested two notorious criminals who were wanted in a shootout incident in the northern Delhi's Subzi Mandi area, an official said here on Monday. The accused, identified as Ashok Pushkar, a resident of Malka Ganj, Delhi and Vikas Khari, a resident of Rampura, Delhi were arrested on December 15 near Paschim Vihar West Metro Station in the city. Sharing details about the operation, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Jasmeet Singh said, on November 6 the family members of Vicky, a friend of Ashok Pushkar were attacked by the members of a rival group in a money dispute. In retaliation, the accused duo -- Ashok Pushkar and Vikas Khari -- came riding on a bike and fired towards the members of a rival party in which one Arbaaz got injured. Thereafter, a fierce fighting took place between these two groups. After shooting at Arbaaz, associates and family members of Arbaaz armed with firearms, sticks, iron rods came and attacked various members of other party (Ashok Pushkar) and stabbed several persons in their house. Both the accused Ashok and Vikas were absconding since the day of the incident. The Southern range of Special cell on December 15 got a tip-off about the movement of the two absconding criminals that both were hiding in the area of Paschim Vihar. The cops received an information that the accused duo would come near Paschim Vihar metro station between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Subsequently, the police team laid a trap and apprehended boh the accused and recovered two semi-automatic pistols of .32 and 8 live cartridges i.e. one pistol and 5 cartridges from Ashok and one pistol and 3 cartridges from Vikas Khari. "A case under appropriate sections of law was registered at the Special Cell police station in this regard against the duo," the DCP said. During interrogation, the accused Ashok disclosed that he, with Vikas Khari, was planning to again attack the members of another party. The police said that both the accused have also been previously arrested in two different cases of murder in 2014. Both were lodged in the same jail where they met with each other. At present, the duo has been out of jail since June 2020 on interim bail by the general orders of the Delhi High Court due to prevailing Covid situation in Delhi. But none of the two surrendered with jail authorities even after court orders in the month of September, this year. Further investigation is in progress, the police added. /IANS