Wanted accused held after dramatic manhunt

Swift and coordinated action by the Paonta Sahib police culminated in the arrest of gangster Hamza, a wanted accused in several criminal cases across states and recently involved in an alleged murderous assault in Devinagar. The police confirmed that Hamza is now in four-day police remand as investigators widen the probe into his network of accomplices.

Trouble escalated on November 12 when Hamza, along with his associates, allegedly targeted Saurabh Kumar of Devinagar. According to police records, Hamza attempted to fire from a country-made pistol at Saurabh Kumar, Naveen and Manish twice, but the weapon misfired. He then allegedly hurled a brick at Saurabh, causing injuries. A case was registered under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 25 of the Arms Act at the Paonta Sahib Police Station.

Intensive search operations began soon after, with teams scanning every possible hideout connected to the accused. A breakthrough came on November 22 when the police received a tip that Hamza was hiding at the residence of a man named Pankaj in Kainchiwala village, Sahaspur, Uttarakhand. Acting swiftly, a Paonta Sahib police team reached the spot, where Hamza was found and detained.

Paonta Sahib SHO Kulwant Singh Kanwar, who led the operation, said the team acted with precision despite the suspect’s history and risk. “Our priority was to ensure a safe and swift arrest. Hamza has been involved in multiple violent cases, and his apprehension was crucial for public safety,” he stated. He said Hamza was immediately taken into custody after on-spot questioning.

During interrogation, Hamza revealed that he recently handed over a country-made pistol and ammunition to Vikas, alias Vicky of Amarkot. Acting on this lead, the police raided Vicky’s residence. Though Vicky managed to flee moments before the team arrived, the search of his room led to the recovery of a country-made pistol, two magazines and two live rounds. The police said Vicky has been traced and will be arrested soon.

Sirmaur SP Nishchint Singh Negi said the district police remain committed to cracking down on organised crime. “No criminal, however notorious, will be allowed to operate freely in Sirmaur. This arrest is a clear message that lawbreakers will be tracked down and brought before the law,” he said. He added that efforts are underway to dismantle the entire chain of individuals involved in harbouring or assisting such offenders.

Officials confirmed that Hamza is a habitual offender with cases registered in multiple states. Police intend to utilise the custodial remand to gather more information about his associates, weapons supply sources and past criminal activities.