New Delhi, Aug 5 - A dreaded criminal wanted for half-a-dozen murders in Delhi and adjoining areas was arrested after a brief gunfight with policemen Wednesday.

Sandeep Chaitanya, carrying a reward of Rs.50,000 on his head, was arrested from a house in the densely populated Rohini Sector 25 in northwest Delhi, a police officer said.

Following a tip-off, a police team surrounded house number 151, where Chaitanya was hiding.

'As police zeroed in on the criminal, he started firing and cops retaliated. Chaitanya was arrested after a brief exchange of fire,' the officer said.

According to police, Chaitanya was involved in two double murder cases in Delhi and Hisar in Haryana.