Ghaziabad police arrest snatcher in encounter, accomplice escapes after gunfire

Ghaziabad police have arrested a member of a mobile phone and chain snatching gang following an encounter in which the accused sustained a gunshot injury to his leg. The incident took place around 10 pm on Sunday night when a police team from Indrapuram police station was conducting checks on Kanawani Pusta Road.

The arrested accused has been identified as Sohel, a resident of Delhi. During the encounter, Sohel was injured when police returned fire in self-defense, with the bullet striking his left leg. His accomplice managed to flee from the scene and remains at large.

According to police, the incident unfolded when two persons riding a motorcycle were spotted approaching the checking point. When the police team signaled them to stop based on suspicion, the duo refused to halt and instead accelerated their bike, speeding towards the 5/6 culvert area. Police immediately gave chase.

As they fled, the accused opened life-threatening fire at the police team. The police defended themselves in a trained manner and fired back in retaliation. In this exchange of gunfire, one of the accused was hit by a bullet in his left leg, while the second person succeeded in escaping.

During interrogation, the injured accused revealed his name as Sohel and said he is from Delhi. Sohel admitted that approximately 15 days ago, he had committed a mobile snatching incident at Vasundhara outpost under Indrapuram police station jurisdiction. He identified his absconding accomplice as Aamir. According to police, the two have been working together and carrying out mobile and chain snatching incidents across various locations in the Indrapuram police station area as well as different parts of Delhi-NCR.

Police recovered a country-made pistol, one live cartridge, two empty cartridge shells, and a black-colored Duke motorcycle from the possession of the accused. The motorcycle is being reported as stolen from Delhi. Investigation into Sohel's criminal record revealed that more than half a dozen cases of theft, snatching, and offenses under the Arms Act are already registered against him.

The injured accused has been sent to hospital immediately for medical treatment. Police are conducting further legal proceedings and have launched a search operation to trace and apprehend the absconding accomplice Aamir.

This incident underscores police vigilance amid rising snatching incidents in the area. The Indrapuram police station administration has stated that strict action against such criminals will continue.