NEW DELHI: Two
criminals
were
shot at
during an
encounter with a
joint team
of Delhi Police’s
Crime Branch
and
UP STF
near
Baghpat on Friday night.
The accused — Sonu Thakur and Manoj — were absconding for the past few months. A reward of Rs 50,000 was declared on Thakur, who had been booked in several cases of murder, robbery and attempt to murder.
DCP (crime) Ram Gopal Naik said that Thakur had shot dead an oil trader outside his house in Ghaziabad and fled with Rs 5.20 lakh. The duo had also killed a businessman in Meerut recently, by entering his house and firing 18 rounds at him. Thakur was also involved in 20 cases of robberies in Delhi. Manoj was involved in several cases of robbery, dacoity and attempt to murder in Delhi and NCR. He was also booked under the Gunda Act in Haryana. Police said that after committing a crime, they used to flee to a neighbouring state.
Thakur and Manoj — who were on a bike — were intercepted by a police team near Chandni Nagar. When cops signalled them to stop, one of them started firing at the officers. The duo tried to flee towards a field but fell from the bike. However, they did not stop firing at the cops. Officers too fired back during which Thakur and Manoj were hit on their legs. Two pistols, three magazines and three rounds were seized from them.
The criminals were admitted to a nearby government hospital and would be taken into custody once they recover.