PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Ramnagar
An encounter late on Saturday night between police and wanted criminal Chandan Sagar in the Maldhan area saw the criminal allegedly firing at the police and getting shot in the leg in retaliatory firing by the police. He was arrested and taken to Ram Dutt Joshi Combined Hospital in Ramnagar for treatment.
Nainital senior superintendent of police Manjunath TC said that around 15 cases have been registered against Sagar who hails from Shivlalpur Riwuniya, Ramnagar. The cases include attempt to murder, assault, criminal intimidation and cases under the Gangster Act and the Arms Act. According to the police, Sagar has been involved in criminal activities for a long time and was recently wanted in connection with an incident in the Ramnagar area.
The police team had gone to conduct a raid in search of Sagar. During the operation, he fled towards the forest beyond the Hathidanger forest check post and hid in the forest in Maldhan. When the police surrounded the area and attempted to apprehend him, Sagar allegedly opened fire at the police personnel and vehicles.
He reportedly fired around three rounds, damaging a police vehicle. The police control room was immediately informed about the firing, following which additional police personnel reached the spot. The entire forest area was cordoned off and Sagar was surrounded from all sides. The police then retaliated, during which Sagar sustained a bullet injury to his leg and fell to the ground. The police team arrested him and took him to the hospital for treatment.
According to the police, cases have been registered against Sagar consistently since 2020. In 2020, cases were registered against him under the Excise Act and for assault. In 2021, he faced cases related to assault and intimidation, while in 2022, a case was registered under Sections 307 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. Cases related to assault, rioting and intimidation were also registered in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, action was taken against him under the Gangster Act and Arms Act. Further cases were registered against him in 2025 and 2026.
Police are now investigating the circumstances of the encounter and the sequence of events leading to the exchange of fire.
