Three criminals arrested after encounter in Sonepat; one injured

The anti-gangster unit of the Sonepat police arrested three miscreants after a brief encounter near Bayanpur village in the wee hours on Thursday morning. During the encounter, a miscreant sustained bullet injury in his leg. The accused were wanted in a robbery case and were demanding Rs 50 lakh from the owner of a sweets shop.

The police admitted the injured to the Civil Hospital from where doctors referred him to Bhagat Phool Singh Medical College at Khanpur Kalan.

The accused have been identified as Lakshya of Bhatgaon, Raunak and Shubham of Kakroi village. The police seized a .315 bore country-made pistol from the injured, Lakshya, of Bhatgaon.

Inspector Ajay Dhankar, Incharge, Anti Gangster Unit, in his complaint to the Sadar police said that he, along with his team, was near Kalupur chungi on Rohtak road when they received a tipoff about the three miscreants, who were reportedly involved in criminal activities.

The team laid a naka on the Kakroi road. After some time, three youths were seen coming on a motorcycle from Kakroi village side. As the police team directed them to stop, they tried to turn their motorcycle. But their motorcycle skidded and they fell on the road.

The police warned them to stay put but they started running towards the village.

The team began chasing them but one of the accused turned and opened fire on the police team. In retaliation, Inspector Ajay Dhankar fired at the assailant and he fell on the road. The miscreant was identified as Lakshya of Bhatgaon. A .315-bore country-made pistol was found from him. Meanwhile, the team nabbed his two more associates, who have been identified as Raunak and Shubham of Kakroi village.

The team admitted the accused, Lakshay, in the Civil Hospital from where the doctors referred him to the medical college at Khanpur Kalan.

Inspector Dhankar said that the accused had a criminal record. They were wanted in a robbery case registered in the Sadar police station. The accused had been demanding Rs 50 lakh from a sweets shop owner in the city for the last two days. They had allegedly threatened to shoot him if he did not give them the money.

The Sadar police have registered a case against the three accused and begun a probe into the matter.