Mystery shrouds the controversial arrest of a criminal in an alleged encounter in Ghaziabad, which took a turn after official records mentioned Ghaziabad SSP Dharmendra Yadav’s name. What makes it even more incredulous is the fact that the media release issued by police does not mention the name of the said SSP.
The police version surrounding the encounter farce contains particulars not backed by facts. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in Meerut K Satyanarayana told The Pioneer that Ghaziabad Police took the ailing criminal into custody while he was undergoing treatment in a local hospital.
The DIG further said Amit, alias Saddam, alias Gabbar — a resident of Gangrauli in Baghpat district — who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, was undergoing treatment at Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad. Acting on a tip-off, Ghaziabad Police verified his presence and took him into custody.
Earlier on Friday, the PRO posted invitations to mediapersons on WhatsApp to attend a media briefing by SSP Dharmendra Yadav at Police lines at 4.00 pm but the Press conference was cancelled and a release issued instead. The Press release revealed Ghaziabad Police and the Crime Branch arrested a wanted criminal in an encounter held at Bhopura under Sahibabad police station area.
The arrest drama took a twist when the SSP’s name figured in the documentation of the encounter. According to records, four criminals were taking their injured cohort to Delhi in an Alto.
Seeing a parked police van, the criminals started shooting at the vehicle. One bullet grazed the ear of inspector Rashid Ali while another struck SSP in his bulletproof vest.
While police arrested the injured felon and his cousin Sonu, the two passengers in the front escaped. Sonu told police that Amit sustained .12 bore injuries during exchange of fire in village Gangrauli on Thursday night. Police seized the car and recovered a pistol and live cartridges from his possession.
DIG Satyanarayana said Director General of UP Police had announced the reward for arresting Amit dead or alive a long time ago. He added a recommendation to enhance the reward to Rs 2 lakh was under consideration.
Amit has over 25 criminal cases, including murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, kidnapping for ransom and contract killing registered against him in different police stations of Baghpat and adjoining districts.