The Hindu : Courage the word for this cop

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 28, 2002

Other States

Other States - New Delhi

Courage the word for this cop

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 27. A gang leader who targeted those depositing money in banks was nabbed by a Delhi police constable after a brief chase and an exchange of fire near Nizamuddin police station in South Delhi today. Two autorickshaw drivers sustained pellet injuries in the cross-firing.

This morning, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Delhi, P. Kamaraj, instructed the area police to intensify surveillance around banks. Subsequently, constable Anil Kumar of Nizamuddin police station took a round of the area and when he was coming out from the Punjab National Bank at 11 a.m., he spotted a person seated on a scooter.

Anil asked the person, later identified as Amit Gupta, the purpose of his presence there. Amit claimed that he was waiting for his sister who had gone to the bank. Not satisfied with his reply, Anil again enquired where he was residing. Amit gave some fictitious address, following which the constable got suspicious. He tried to frisk the culprit, but was pushed away.

Then Amit started running. He whipped out a country-made firearm and shot at Anil, who ducked and escaped unhurt. Anil shot two rounds from his service revolver in retaliation and then hitched a ride from a scooterist and gave chase. Meanwhile, Amit boarded a bus and later alighted from it at a bus stop near Nizamuddin police station. As soon as Amit got into an autorickshaw, Anil arrived there and shot three more rounds at him.

Amit sustained three bullet injuries, two in the back and one in his armpit. He was taken to All India Institute of Medical Science, along with the two injured autorickshaw drivers, Hukum Chand and Bachchan Singh. Hukum Chand who sustained pellet injury in a finger was discharged after treatment, while Bachchan Singh who was injured in the back, was admitted.

Commending the exemplary courage shown by constable Anil Kumar, the Delhi Police Commissioner, Radhey Shyam Gupta, promoted him to the rank of head constable. A scooterist who helped Anil in chasing the accused has also been sanctioned a cash reward of Rs. 3,000 and a Commendation Certificate by Mr. Gupta.

During interrogation, the accused said he was a resident of Sangam Vihar. He disclosed that when he was spotted by constable Anil, he along with his another accomplice, Om Prakash, was trying to target a person who was on his way to the bank to deposit money. Om Prakash, who was nearby, managed to flee.

Amit told the police that he earlier worked for Sunny-Nizam gang, however, following the arrest of the gang leaders, he formed a sub-group and started committing robberies.

Investigations revealed that Amit was involved in three cases, including the murder of a businessman at Govindpuri in South Delhi a couple of months ago. The businessman, who had gone to the area to collect money from his client, was shot dead in broad daylight.

In another case, Amit along with his accomplice robbed a person of Rs. 9.5 lakhs, while he was going to deposit in the bank. Another person was robbed of Rs. 1.3 lakhs at Kalkaji. The police said they have launched a hunt for the other gang members.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

BJP legislators desert Khurana, Sahib Singh

Courage the word for this cop

Metro will decrease bus traffic: Study

MLA's bid for spotlight leaves Cong. in a spot