PNS | DEHRADUN
A wanted criminal Yusuf (50) was injured in a police encounter near Jhajhra outpost in the wee hours of Sunday. The accused is a Haridwar resident who was attempting to evade the police when he opened fire on officers, prompting them to respond in self-defense, the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said. He informed that Yusuf, who had been evading arrest for months in connection with a brutal cow slaughter case, attempted a desperate escape, opening fire on officers as they closed in. In the intense face-off, Yusuf was struck in the leg by a police bullet and promptly detained. The SSP said that the encounter occurred when officers spotted Yusuf at a checkpoint near Jhajhra outpost during checking. Seizing the opportunity, the officers tried to stop him but Yusuf sped off after which the police started chasing him. “With police teams hot on his trail, Yusuf finally found himself surrounded and realising there was no escape, he fired at the advancing officers. In self-defense, police returned fire and finally apprehended him. He was taken to a nearby hospital in Sahaspur for treatment,” he added. Singh informed that the police also recovered an illegal firearm, live cartridges and the motorcycle used in the attempted getaway.
He also stated that Yusuf and four accomplices had been involved in a cow slaughter incident in August in the Premnagar area, where two cows were killed. Following the incident, police launched an extensive investigation, leading to the arrests of two suspects Abdul Niaz and Sohban from various locations. Both were charged under Uttarakhand’s Cow Protection Act and sent to jail. However, Yusuf and another accomplice managed to evade arrest at that time. In response to Yusuf’s continued evasion, the SSP had announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for his arrest. He said that the police will continue their efforts to track down his remaining accomplice.
