1 firing accused held after encounter in Karnal, another flees

After a brief exchange of firing near Karna Lake on the Western Yamuna Bypass in Karnal in the wee hours on Thursday, the police arrested a suspect for involvement in the recent case of firing on the father-in-law of a woman sarpanch of Bhambarehri village. Another suspect, however, managed to escape.

Both suspects had on Wednesday night also shot at head constable Rishiraj of the CIA team of Assandh and fled with his Scorpio car, at Kabri village in Panipat. The head constable is undergoing treatment in Panipat and is said to be out of danger.

The duo then engaged in an encounter with the Karnal police near Karna Lake, after the police intercepted them, but they fired at the police party, in which SHO, Civil Lines, Vishnu Miter and his team members had a narrow escape. A bullet shattered the front windshield of their car, piercing through to the rear.

In retaliation, the police fired at suspects. Of them, Sawan, a resident of Lath village in Sonepat district, sustained bullet injuries leading to his arrest, while Suresh, a resident of Bhabarehri village, managed to escape from the crime scene with Scorpio.

Sawan was taken to the Trauma Centre at the District Civil Hospital for treatment, said the police.

On Thursday morning, the police recovered the Scorpio, which was found overturned in a fields at Gangar village.

On November 1, Suresh and his associates allegedly entered the residence of the Bhambarehri sarpanch and opened fire at her father-in-law Mahender (60), causing him injuries. An FIR was registered at the Munak police station against Suresh and others. The Karnal police had earlier arrested three suspects in this case.