Vehicle thief wounded in police encounter after opening fire in Muzaffarnagar

A notorious vehicle thief was wounded and arrested after a police encounter in the Budhana police station area of Muzaffarnagar. The accused, who opened fire at the police team during an operation, was injured in retaliatory firing and has been admitted to hospital. Police have recovered an illegal country-made pistol, live and empty cartridges, and a numberless motorcycle from his possession.

The incident unfolded when Budhana police were conducting checking of suspicious persons and vehicles near Crown School. A young man riding a motorcycle was spotted coming from the Mandwara side. When police signalled him to stop, the rider turned back and attempted to flee. During the chase, his motorcycle went out of control and fell, after which the accused abandoned the bike and ran into a sugarcane field.

According to police, the accused opened fire on the police team during the cordon operation. In retaliatory action, the accused was wounded by gunfire. Police arrested him in injured condition and sent him to hospital.

The arrested accused has been identified as Bilal alias Manki, a resident of Khair Nagar under Delhi Gate police station in Meerut. According to police, multiple cases including theft, vehicle theft, and cases under the Gangster Act are registered against the accused in various police stations of Meerut, Delhi, Noida, and Haryana. The accused was also wanted in a Gangster Act case registered at Nauchandi police station in Meerut.

Budhana police have recovered a 315 bore illegal country-made pistol, one live cartridge and one empty cartridge, and a numberless Splendor motorcycle from the accused. Police are taking further legal action in the matter.