Snatcher sustains injury while trying to flee police custody

A snatcher, Vikramjit Singh, alias Pintu, was injured in a brief exchange of fire with the Division B police near Vallah flyover area here on Monday night. During the operation, the police recovered a pistol and five rounds.

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A resident of Gali Masit Wali Mohalla Road Pura, Tarn Taran, he was arrested by the police here on Monday for snatching a mobile phone and a motorcycle from a granthi a few days ago. He had also looted an engineer in Pratap Nagar area two days ago.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said when they were taking the accused to the B Division police station after the recovery of the weapon, he claimed that he was feeling uneasiness. A police party stopped the vehicle and took him out of the vehicle. He said when he stepped out of the vehicle, he retrieved 9mm pistol of Assistant Sub-Inspector Harnek Singh from the compartment and started firing at the police in his attempt to flee from police custody.

The police personnel promptly retaliated in self-defence and arrested him. Nevertheless in the process, he sustained a bullet injury in his one leg. The accused was subsequently admitted to the Civil Hospital here for treatment. A fresh FIR has been registered against Vikramjit Singh on charges of attempt to murder and arms act, Bhullar said.

Vikarmjit Singh (30) along with Lovepreet Singh (26), both residents of Tarn Taran, had looted a junior engineer and a granthi in the recent past. The police said Vikramjit had confessed to have committed three crimes of similar nature in the city in the past.

Manmeet Singh, a resident of Partap Nagar area, was returning home on the intervening night of March 20 and 21 when he was looted by armed persons. He told the police that he was near Partap Bazaar when two unidentified scooter-borne persons intercepted him and threatened to shoot him. They snatched his expensive iPhone 13 pro and a wallet before fleeing the spot.