PNS | DEHRADUN
The police arrested a wanted criminal, Shahnawaz alias Soni (28) after a late-night encounter in the Lal Tappar area near Doiwala in Dehradun in the wee hours of Sunday. The accused, wanted under the Uttarakhand Cow Protection Act, attempted to evade capture by firing two shots at the police team during a chase.
Acting in self-defense, the police returned fire and shot him in the leg, Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said. The incident occurred late on Saturday when Clement Town police informed Lal Tappar outpost about a suspicious individual riding a black Splendor motorcycle without a number plate, heading towards Doiwala from Raiwala. The accused was suspected to be connected to a case registered under the Cow Protection Act. The SSP said that the police set up a barricade and initiated a vehicle check. As the suspect approached the checkpoint, he attempted to flee by turning his bike onto a road leading into the forest.
A joint team of Clement Town police, Doiwala police and SOG pursued him. After losing balance and falling from the bike, the accused abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Singh said that when the police told the accused to surrender, he reportedly opened fire at them, forcing them to retaliate. The police shot him in the right leg after which he was subdued and taken into custody, he said.
The accused was identified as Shahnawaz, a resident of Gangoh, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He was wanted in a case registered at Clement Town police station and has a criminal history, including six cases in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Previously, he had been jailed under the Cow Slaughter and Cruelty to Animals Act in Uttar Pradesh. Singh said that the police also recovered an illegal country-made pistol, one live cartridge, two spent cartridges and the motorcycle used by the accused.
Shahnawaz was taken to a nearby hospital for the primary treatment after the arrest. He was later referred to Himalayan Hospital for further treatment. The police have registered a new case against him under the Arms Act and other relevant sections, the SSP said.
