After 4-day chase & exchange of fire, man who attacked cops held
A 33-year-old man on Monday was arrested after a nearly four-day chase and an exchange of fire with the police.
The accused, along with two accomplices, had attacked and robbed police personnel while on patrol duty, using batons from a police vehicle during the assault, the police said on Tuesday. To evade arrest, the accused led a transient lifestyle, often sleeping on railway platforms in Shahdara and Ghaziabad. He would regularly purchase tickets and pose as a commuter to avoid detection.
The accused, identified as one Khem Chand, was arrested from East Delhi’s Ghazipur area late on Monday near the Paper Market, where he had come to meet his associates to plan another crime.
The violent attack on a police team took place on July 18 at around 5.30 am, when three men riding against the traffic on a motorcycle were intercepted by a patrolling team near the Anand Vihar ISBT.
When stopped, the trio attacked Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohammad Qasim and constable Krishanpal using batons from a police vehicle nearby, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania said in a press conference.
The officer added that both cops sustained serious head injuries, and the assailants fled after robbing them of a mobile phone, wallet, cash and documents.
The DCP said an FIR was registered and an intensive investigation was launched.
A joint team comprising members the Anti-Narcotics Squad and the Special Staff was formed to probe the case.
Dhania said, on Monday, police received specific inputs that Khem Chand, the main accused, would arrive at the Paper Market around midnight.
The joint team laid a trap at the location, and spotted the accused. When asked to surrender, he impersonated a police officer and attempted to flee.
Upon being cornered, he allegedly opened fire at the police team, the DCP added.
The police said, in self-defence, the team retaliated and the accused was injured, and later admitted to LBS Hospital in Kalyanpuri.
The police said the accused fired four rounds, while the police team fired two rounds. No police officials were injured in the encounter, officials added.
A pistol with live and empty cartridges and a stolen motorcycle were recovered from the accused, while a search to arrest his associates is underway.
During interrogation, Khem Chand admitted to resorting to crime to fund his drug addiction.
He revealed that he had previously tried to change his identity to Javed to mislead the police, said the police.
Delhi