The gangsters based in western Uttar Pradesh are giving a tough time to the Haridwar district police. They are committing robberies, firing shots at those who challenge them and escape into the forested areas surrounding the district.
A few months ago, the gangsters had indulged in a shooting spree in Manglaur area, blocking traffic on the road in which one sub-inspector was injured. Many more incidents of such gun fire were reported in the past one year, leaving police red-faced and the people living nearby panicky. The history sheeter from Ratanpuri of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh who was arrested along with another following the recent encounter revealed that the rural banks were their target. They used to conduct recce of the targeted banks before they conducted the robberies.
The Chetak police personnel nabbed the duo from the sugarcane fields on landhaura laksar Road. Nine cases have been registered against each of the accused.
Interrogation further revealed that the gangsters had robbed some roadway employees after waylaying them in Dehradun last year. In Bahadrabad, the goons had killed a doctor followed by another such incident in Iqbalpur. On October 22 last, the gangsters had shot at and injured the police station in-charge, lakhnauta.
The forest area surrounding Solani river in Roorkee has become a favourite refuge for the criminals. It is learnt that the spot where the police and the gangsters had an encounter recently was being used as shooting ground by the gangsters.
The heists are common in the area. Cop said that since the bifurcation of UP and formation of U’khand, the forested area along Roorkee -laksar Road swept by Solani river has proved to be a convenient hideout for the criminals.