The Dehradun police claimed to have cracked the burglary committed in ex-Army officer lD Singh’s home at Dunga in Premnagar on the intervening night of October 25 and 26. Dehradun police arrested two criminals, including the main accused Pradeep after an encounter with police. Several rounds were fired from both sides before the duo was arrested from a house at Belawal under Premnagar police station area late on Sunday night. They are hardcore criminals, police said.
While being grilled, Pradeep revealed that along with his accomplice Ankit, he had barged into the house of the major general and looted the house after holding the family members captive for around four hours.
Police acted after receiving a tip- off that two criminals were staying in a house at Selaqui in Sahaspur. SSP Sadanand Shankar Rao Date had formed a team led by SP City Ajay Singh and policemen from SOG, Sahaspur police station and Premangar were included.
A large contingent of police forces was deployed in the area keeping in view the notoriety of the criminals they were after.
Police sealed the house and challenged them to come out. The criminals fired two rounds on police, prompting the cops to fire around three rounds in retaliation. Two criminals were apprehended. The accused have been identified as Pradeep and Keshav, natives of Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh).
The police recovered two pistols and seven bullets, three kiosk cartridges, two sharp weapons, a car, three mobile phones, all stolen, and several pieces of jewellery from their possession. Interrogation revealed that several cases were registered against the duo in various police stations of the State as well as Uttar Pradesh. A case under section 392 of IPC was registered against Pradeep in the police station, Rehar, Bijnor. A case under sections 394/397/363/411 of IPC was registered in the police station of Premnagar.
Pradeep had allegedly duped several people of around Rs 52 lakh on the pretext of providing them with jobs in the banks. Pradeep, a post- graduate, had earlier worked in a nationalised bank, Oriental Bank of Commence.
Notably, two criminals had barged in the house of major general on October 25 night and fled with some cash and jwelleries after keeping the members of the family captive on Sunday night. Police had circulated sketches of the accused on Tuesday to ensure their early identification.