Following a gunfight in the Chawla area late on Sunday, the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested two men suspected to be involved in a robbery, one of whom allegedly opened fire at a policeman and injured him in Tilak Nagar last month.
The police identified the arrested accused as Deepak Haddi, 21 and Kailash Bhola, 20. Officers said that on receiving a tip-off on Sunday, they laid a trap in Chawla under the supervision of Umesh Barthwal, Assistant Commissioner of Police, and intercepted a motorbike on which the suspects were travelling.
On being asked to surrender, the two started firing at the police party, a senior police officer said. The accused allegedly fired nine rounds at the police, prompting the officers to retaliate in self-defence. The two accused sustained bullet injuries in their legs, and were taken to a nearby hospital, an officer said.
The accused were allegedly involved in an armed robbery on March 21 in which a man was held at gunpoint and robbed of his mobile phone and Rs 5,000 cash. Following this, the police raided a hideout where the accused were believed to be present on March 27. During the search, two of the accused fled.
The police chased them and Bhola opened fire, injuring Sandeep, a constable, in the hand and abdomen. Officers said that though the other accused was arrested, Bhola managed to flee.
“Sandeep (the constable) was immediately taken to the hospital, where he is undergoing treatment,” said Sachin Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer Delhi, adding that one of the men arrested after Sunday’s gunfight confessed to his involvement in the robbery.
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