Delhi Police's AATS team from the Outer North district cornered three wanted criminals in separate encounters on the same night, shooting each of them in the leg before making the arrests. One of the operations took place near the Narela Industrial Area, while the other unfolded in the Lajpat Nagar area. In police parlance, such an operation is described as a half encounter, where a suspect is shot in the leg rather than killed so that he can be arrested.
A trap near Narela to catch a serial snatcher
Irshad Ali, alias Sukkar Ali, had been involved in multiple cases of snatching and robbery across Delhi and had been on the police's wanted list for some time. Acting on a tip off about his location, the AATS team of the Outer North district laid a trap for him. The moment he spotted the police, Irshad opened fire in an attempt to escape. Officers fired back, and one bullet struck him in the leg. The injured Irshad was arrested on the spot.
Two more held while heading out on a stolen bike
Before Irshad's arrest, police had received information on Monday night that two seasoned criminals were riding a stolen motorcycle in the Lajpat Nagar area to carry out a crime. Acting on this tip, a joint team of local police, the STF and AATS set up a trap. Around 12:15 at night, when the two suspects arrived, police tried to stop them, but the men panicked and opened fire, unleashing three rounds at the officers. Police fired back, hitting both suspects in the leg, after which they were arrested. An illegal pistol, a live cartridge and a country made pistol were recovered from them.
One of the accused has 113 cases against him
Among the two men arrested in the Lajpat Nagar case, Pramod Kumar turned out to be a habitual offender with 113 criminal cases registered against him for robbery, attempt to murder and offences under the Arms Act. The other accused, Rajesh, is described as a close associate of Pramod who has been involved with him in several previous crimes. The arrest of three wanted criminals in a single night across two separate operations is being seen as a significant success for the police.
