Three arrested after gunfight for robbing jewellers

Ghaziabad: Three persons were arrested on Monday after a gunfight in connection with a spate of robberies. Another person gave cops the slip and is on the run. On June 11, one of the accused shot a 36-year-old jeweller in the right hand in Nandgram and fled with Rs 40,000 cash, 2.5 kg of silver, and 25 grams of gold. The gang would usually target jewellers, police said.Police put up a check post in Nandgram after they received information that the four accused were in the area. Cops tried to stop four persons on two bikes at the checkpost, but they started running away. When police chased them, the accused started firing. In a retaliatory gunfight, two accused — Pawan Bhati (27) from Dadri and Prashant Bhadana (28) from Sikandrabad, Bulandshahr — were shot in the legs. Dankaur resident Lakhan Pal (22) was also arrested, while another Accused, Neeshu, fled the scene.Prashant and Lakhan worked as security guards at the JP Sports Complex in Greater Noida, earning meager salaries. Prashant, struggling with his low pay of Rs 6800 per month, joined the gang led by Pawan.The gang scouted jewellery shops in Chandni Chowk. They targeted people from UP, Haryana, and outside Delhi and identified them through the number plate of their vehicles. Ravi Kumar, ACP of Nandgram, said, “During interrogation, the suspects admitted that they targetted traders and jewellers at Chandni Chowk. On June 9, they devised a robbery plan, and on June 11, they scouted the area to understand escape routes. Prashant and Neeshu were assigned to carry out the robbery, with Pawan and Lakhan as backup on a second motorcycle. If Prashant and Neeshu failed, Pawan and Lakhan were to step in and execute the robbery.”On June 11, the accused followed Ghaziabad jeweller Deepak. “Prashant and Neeshu attempted to rob Deepak near Nandi Park Gaushala in Nandgram, but he resisted. After that, Prashant shot him in the arm and fled with Deepak's bag. After the robbery, the four accused reached Pawan's farm in Dadri and divided the looted money among themselves. Neeshu took half of the jewelry to sell, while the rest was divided equally among the group,” the ACP said. Police recovered silver and gold items, Rs 15,500 in cash, country-made pistols with live ammunition, and a motorcycle from the arrested suspects. An FIR has been filed against them under IPC Section 394 (voluntarily causing hurt).