Panic gripped Ghuspethi village in Nuh district last night when villagers managed to free a notorious criminal, Shahid, alias Advani, from police custody. The police had nabbed him and his accomplice after a brief encounter.
The villagers also vandalised a vehicle belonging to the criminal and a private police vehicle. A villager also alleged that the police, along with a gaurakshak, shot at him. Additional force was called to the village, and the police arrested an accomplice of the criminal. An FIR was registered at Sadar Tauru police station. The police said the arrested accused was identified as Waris of Kharkhari village in Nuh district. A country-made pistol was recovered from his possession.
The other accused who misled the police, identified as Azaru, is admitted to hospital. According to a complaint filed by SI Mahender Singh, he and his team were patrolling at IMT, Rojka Meo, when they received information that Shahid and Waris were heading toward Ghuspethi village to commit a crime.
The police team reached near the village, where the vehicle of the accused was parked. Occupants of the vehicle reportedly fired at the police party.
“A member of the police team fired a shot into the air and asked them to surrender, but the accused started firing again. I then fired towards the feet of the driver. The accused got out of the vehicle and started fleeing. Both Advani and Waris were nabbed. In the meantime, a large crowd gathered in the area. One of them was overpowered by the mob, and to distract the police, they shouted that Azaru had been shot by the police. The mob engaged in a scuffle with the police team, and freed Shahid. The mob then damaged the vehicles with sticks and rods,” the SI said.
Following the complaint, an FIR was registered against the three accused and others at Sadar Tauru police station. “We are questioning the arrested accused. Police teams are conducting raids to nab Shahid, who is a notorious criminal,” claimed a police spokesperson.
