A routine vehicular inspection in the Indirapuram area of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, escalated into an armed confrontation late Monday night between local police officers and two suspects traveling on a motorcycle. Following a sudden exchange of gunfire, one suspect sustained a bullet wound to his left leg and was taken into custody, while his accomplice managed to slip away into the darkness. The wounded criminal was immediately shifted to a local hospital for medical care, and authorities recovered an illegal firearm alongside a stolen two-wheeler from the encounter site.
Evading the Checkpoint at Kanawani Pusta Road
The incident unfolded at approximately 10:00 PM on Monday as a police patrol unit set up a routine inspection point along the Kanawani Pusta road. During the drive, officers spotted two individuals approaching on a motorcycle under suspicious circumstances and signaled them to pull over. Instead of complying with the directive, the rider accelerated sharply and veered toward the 5/6 culvert in a bid to escape. Alerted by the evasive maneuver, the police team initiated an immediate vehicular pursuit to intercept the duo before they could blend into nearby residential sectors.
Exchange of Gunfire and Apprehension
Realizing that law enforcement officers were closing in, the fleeing suspects opened fire directly at the pursuit vehicle with intent to kill. The officers took evasive cover and returned controlled defensive fire toward the attackers. During this brief exchange, a bullet struck one suspect in the left leg, bringing him down on the road, while his partner exploited the surrounding chaos and darkness to flee the immediate vicinity on foot. Police teams secured the wounded suspect and secured the area before arranging urgent emergency medical evacuation.
Confession of Snatching Incidents Across Delhi-NCR
Investigators identified the apprehended suspect as Sohail, a resident of Delhi. During preliminary questioning, Sohail admitted to snatching a mobile phone approximately 15 days earlier within the jurisdiction of the Vasundhara police post in Indirapuram. Officials also established the identity of his absconding partner as Aamir. Inquiries revealed that both men operated as an active street-crime team targeting pedestrians across the Indirapuram locality and wider Delhi-NCR, systematically robbing victims of expensive smartphones and gold chains.
Recovery of Stolen Duke Motorcycle and Firearms
From the scene of the confrontation, officers seized a country-made firearm, one live cartridge, and two spent cartridge shells discarded after the shooting. The police also impounded the suspects' black Duke motorcycle. Verification of the vehicle records revealed that the motorcycle had previously been reported stolen from Delhi, serving as their high-speed getaway vehicle during snatching sprees across interstate border zones.
Extensive Criminal Record and Ongoing Search Operations
A background check on Sohail confirmed a substantial history of habitual crime, with more than half a dozen cases registered against him under the Arms Act along with charges of theft and robbery across multiple jurisdictions. While Sohail remains under medical custody at the hospital, specialized police raiding teams have launched an aggressive manhunt across suspected hideouts to locate and arrest the absconding partner, Aamir, with formal legal proceedings progressing under relevant sections of the law.
