Two Men Arrested for Attacking Delhi Police Constable and Snatching Service Pistol in Southwest Delhi
In a significant breakthrough, two men accused of attacking a Delhi Police constable, snatching his service pistol, and firing at him in Southwest Delhi have been arrested following a joint operation by Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police. The incident, which occurred on January 22 in Safdarjung Enclave, left the constable with a close shave, prompting an intensive investigation that led to the arrests days later.
Details of the Incident and Arrests
The arrests followed a brief exchange of fire in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad, as confirmed by police officials on Tuesday. The accused were identified as Avinash, aged 30 and a resident of Savitri Nagar, and his accomplice, Waseem, also 30, from Malviya Nagar's Swami Nagar. The 9 mm pistol that Avinash had snatched from the constable was recovered from his possession during the operation.
According to police reports, the incident unfolded around 2:20 pm on January 22 when Head Constable Rajkumar was on routine patrol duty in Safdarjung Enclave. A passerby alerted him about two suspicious men hiding in a nearby park. When Rajkumar approached them, the men allegedly attacked him. One of the men overpowered the constable, while the other snatched his service pistol and fired a shot before fleeing the scene.
Investigation and Manhunt
Officers attempted to chase the men but were unsuccessful. The armed men reportedly stopped a passing motorcyclist and escaped. In response, a case was registered at Safdarjung Enclave police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.
Following the incident, multiple police teams were formed to track down the perpetrators. Investigators meticulously scanned footage from nearly 500 CCTV cameras installed in areas including Safdarjung Enclave, Hauz Khas, Malviya Nagar, and Mehrauli. During the probe, police identified Avinash, who has a history of involvement in several robbery and snatching cases across Delhi. Electronic surveillance indicated that he had fled towards Tundla in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Exchange of Fire and Apprehension
Raids were conducted on January 23, leading to a confrontation near the Old Bypass Road close to the Raja Ka Tal cremation ground. Around 2:15 pm, Avinash was spotted riding a scooter. When signaled to stop, he allegedly sped up, lost control of the scooter, and opened fire at the police team after being surrounded.
In the ensuing exchange of fire, bullets hit the vests of ACP Melvyn Varghese and Inspector Ram Kumar. The accused sustained injuries to his knees after police retaliated and was apprehended on the spot, as stated by DCP (South West) Amit Goel. Along with the recovered pistol, a mobile phone and a scooter were also seized from Avinash's possession.
Arrest of Accomplice and Further Investigation
During questioning, Avinash allegedly confessed to his involvement in the Safdarjung Enclave incident. Based on his information, his accomplice, Waseem, was subsequently arrested near a graveyard. Police revealed that Waseem has a prior criminal record, with two cases registered against him at Vasant Vihar and Malviya Nagar police stations.
Separate cases have been filed in connection with the arrests, and further investigation is currently underway to uncover any additional details or links to other criminal activities. This joint operation highlights the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies in tackling serious crimes in the region.
