Three shot at on highway

Three people who had stopped on the national highway connecting Ghaziabad and Delhi early on Saturday were shot at and robbed by attackers, police said.

Three people who had stopped on the national highway connecting Ghaziabad and Delhi early on Saturday were shot at and robbed by attackers, police said.

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An officer said Vijender, his wife Kunta and younger brother Surendra put up a fight, following which the robbers opened fire, injuring one of them critically.

The National Highway-24 is an important connecting link between the satellite town of Ghaziabad and the national Capital and is usually busy with commercial vehicles in the wee hours.

The victims, who are in a travel agency business, were returning to their Mehrauli home from Ghaziabad. They stopped their Indica car at the T-point near Mayur Vihar-II for Surendra to take a leak.

“Three armed robbers on a motorcycle came from behind suddenly and pointed a knife towards Kunta and Vijender. Surendra was on the roadside all this while. The two resisted and didn't hand over the cash and jewellery,” said an officer.

The husband and wife put up a fight with the assailants but were overpowered. Surendra meanwhile rushed to the scene and tried to intervene, police said.

“One of them pulled out a pistol and fired five bullets at the victims. Two bullets hit Surendra in the back and shoulder, while a third entered Vijender's left leg,” said an officer. Broken glass also pierced Kunta's body.

The robbers fled the crime scene after the shooting and police came in after some time. The robbers were absconding till late evening, police said.

Police took the three to the nearby Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital for treatment.