Cops gun down known criminal after ‘encounter’

A 31-year-old known criminal was gunned down during retaliatory police firing after being cornered at an intersection in northwest Delhi on Wednesday night, police said. HT reports.

A 31-year-old known criminal was gunned down during retaliatory police firing after being cornered at an intersection in northwest Delhi on Wednesday night, police said.

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Mohan Kumar was wanted in at least nine criminal cases and had been convicted in one related to rape.

He was killed by a team of the south district police on KN Katju Marg around 11.45pm, Chhaya Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (south), said.

The encounter comes less than a month after a young cattle snatcher was shot dead in “self defence”.

A policeman had suffered injuries before the dramatic, hour-long pursuit had ended. The incident had taken place, interestingly, not far from the spot where Wednesday’s encounter occurred.

“We had a tip-off that three robbers would meet their associates from Shahbad Diary in the area. Four teams aboard three police vehicles were sent there,” DCP Sharma said.

The police team reached the spot and located the accused trio near the intersection of Rohini’s Sectors 17 and 18.

The gang — which had chosen to travel in a white sports utility vehicle — became aware of their presence and tried to flee when the police surrounded them.

A series of collisions aimed at stalling the vehicle of the trio followed during which two of the slain criminal’s associates managed to exit the vehicle and flee even as Kumar, aware that he was left with no other option, opened fire on police personnel.

“The police teams retaliated and, during the firing, Kumar suffered three bullet injuries above his torso before collapsing,” said DCP Sharma, adding that Kumar was the first to have opened fire.

Around 15 rounds, sources claimed, were fired during the exchange that lasted between 15 and 20 seconds.

Kumar was taken to the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital even as local police were intimated about the encounter. Kumar was declared dead by doctors upon admission.