A wanted criminal on Thursday escaped from police custody following a shootout outside GTB hospital on Thursday afternoon. Police said that one of them was killed, one sustained injuries while the third one, fled from the spot.
The accused Kuldeep Mann alias Fajja, a close associate of Jitender Mann alias Gogi gang active in National Capital, was being taken to GTB hospital for treatment when the incident occurred.
According to a senior police official, the shootout took place outside GTB hospital at 12.24 pm on Thursday when the third batallion of Delhi Police took the gangster Kuldeep to the hospital for treatment.
"Five persons came in a Scorpio car and motorcycle fired at the third batallion of police in an attempt to release the accused from police custody,” said the senior police official.
“During the encounter, one of the criminals died and one got injured and was apprehended from the spot. The remaining accused ran away from the spot, including Kuldeep,” police said.
The accused who died during the incident has been identified as Ravi, while the injured has been identified as Anikesh, police said, adding that they both are in the age group of 25 to 28 years.
According to police, the accused persons threw chilly powder on the security personnel and later started firing. The police personnel also fired in the retaliation.
“Kuldeep was lodged in Mandoli Jail and was brought to the GTB Hospital OPD for the check by the third batallion of the Delhi Police. After he was checked by the doctors at OPD, the security personnel were taking him back to the police vehicle. Meanwhile, his accomplices who were already waiting outside of the hospital gate, opened fire on the police Party. Kuldeep took the advantage of stampede and managed to flee from the spot along with his associates. Police fire 12 round in the retaliation,” said Alok Kumar, the Joint Commissioner of Police, East.
Investigation has revealed that the criminals came in a car and on a bike. They abandoned the car after the incident. “The accused used gate number 7 of the hospital to escape from the spot. They snatched a bike from a person outside the hospital and escaped,” police said.
Incidentally, Kuldeep was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in March 2020 from Gurgaon.