Police in Kanpur scored a major breakthrough late on the night of August 21 after arresting a notorious criminal following an armed encounter in the Kalyanpur police station limits. The accused had recently cheated and robbed an elderly woman by offering her a motorcycle ride. During routine nocturnal vehicle checking along Indranagar Road, police spotted a suspicious biker and signaled him to stop. Instead of halting, the suspect attempted to speed away and opened fire on the police team. In self-defense retaliatory firing, a bullet struck the criminal's right leg, causing him to crash onto the road, where he was immediately apprehended and rushed to a local hospital for medical care.
Robbery Under the Pretext of Offering a Ride
The crime dates back to the evening of August 18 in the Indranagar locality of Kalyanpur. Santosh Kumari, mother of Kanpur-based lawyer Prem Kumar, had visited her son's office situated near Indranagar intersection around 5:00 PM. After spending some time there, she started walking back toward her residence. A young man riding a motorcycle approached her politely, offering to drop her home safely. Trusting his friendly demeanor, the elderly woman accepted the lift and got onto his bike. The rider drove her up to the vicinity of Gautam Buddha Park intersection in Indranagar, dropped her off, and rode away.
However, as Santosh Kumari continued walking toward her house on foot, the same motorcyclist doubled back. He forcefully pushed the elderly woman onto the hard road surface, tore the gold earring off her ear, and sped off on his bike. The violent push left the woman injured on the pavement.
Passers-by Render Assistance as Police Scan CCTV Footage
Pedestrians traveling along the road rushed to aid the injured woman. A few eyewitnesses attempted to chase down the fleeing motorcyclist, but the criminal navigated through traffic at high speed and escaped. Local residents safely escorted the victim to her residence and alerted her family members about the assault. Lawyer Prem Kumar immediately accompanied his mother back to the crime scene and dialed 112 to register an emergency complaint. कल्याणपुर police arrived promptly, examined the scene, and questioned nearby shopkeepers and witnesses.
Investigating officers systematically analyzed footage from multiple CCTV security cameras installed near Gautam Buddha Park intersection and adjacent routes. Surveillance cameras captured clear images of the suspect and his vehicle, enabling the police to establish his identity and launch targeted raids across several potential hideouts.
Late-Night Encounter on Indranagar Road
On the night of August 21, a specialized police squad established a checkpoint on Indranagar Road for comprehensive vehicle inspection. When the suspect approached the barricade on his motorcycle, officers instructed him to pull over. Recognizing the police, the rider made a sharp U-turn and attempted to flee. As officers pursued him, the suspect drew a firearm and discharged shots at the police team. Exercising self-defense, police fired back, striking the criminal in his right leg. The gunshot incapacitated him, causing him to lose control of the motorcycle and crash onto the street, where officers disarmed and arrested him.
Criminal Record of Seven Prior Cases
During preliminary interrogation, police identified the wounded criminal as Imran alias Raja, a resident of Kohna in Kanpur. According to DCP West SM Qasim Abidi, Imran is a habitual offender with at least seven prior criminal cases involving theft and robbery registered against him at various police stations. Police seized the motorcycle and other items found in his possession. Investigators are currently verifying whether the seized motorcycle belongs to him or was stolen for committing street crimes. Police are also probing whether Imran acted alone or operated with accomplices, while analyzing his broader criminal network in the region.
