The Panipat police have successfully apprehended three wanted miscreants following an encounter near Jaalpad village on the Panipat-Khatima national highway (NH-709-AD) late Wednesday evening. The individuals were wanted in connection with the robbery and murder of Harshad Kumar, the Chief Manager of State Bank of India (SBI) in Hisar. During the encounter, two of the suspects sustained bullet injuries and have been admitted to the civil hospital for treatment.
Details of the Encounter
SP Bhupender Singh confirmed that the injured accused have been identified as Navin, a resident of Dabar Colony, and Sachin, from Subhash Nagar. The third accused, Sharad alias Jogi, also from Dabar Colony, was arrested without injury. The police team, led by Inspector Phool Kumar, In-charge CIA-1, acted on a tip-off received on Wednesday, which led to the initial arrest of Sharad on Kutani Road. Later that evening, another tip-off revealed the location of the other two accused hiding in fields near Jaalpad village along NH-709-AD.
When the police approached, the accused opened fire on the team. In self-defense, the police retaliated, resulting in bullet injuries to the legs of both Navin and Sachin. The police apprehended them and seized two country-made pistols and two live cartridges from their possession.
Background of the Crime
The crime occurred on June 1, when Harshad Kumar was returning home from Hisar late at night. As he reached the backside of Mittal Mega Mall in Sector 25, three youths on a motorcycle attacked him. They robbed him of a gold chain, a silver bracelet, his purse, and a mobile phone. When Kumar resisted, the assailants struck him on the head with a screwdriver and fled the scene. He was rushed to a private hospital in Delhi, where he succumbed to his injuries on June 5.
Investigation and Recovery
SP Bhupender Singh handed over the case to the CIA-1 team, which conducted a thorough investigation. During the encounter, the police recovered the stolen bracelet from Sharad. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Sachin is the mastermind behind the gang. The recovered items and the arrests are significant breakthroughs in the case.
Legal Proceedings
Accused Sharad was produced before a court, which granted him three-day police remand for further interrogation. SP Bhupender Singh added that Navin has three robbery cases registered against him at the Sector 13/17 and City police stations. Similarly, three cases have been registered against Sharad at Sector 13/17, Quilla, and Gharaunda police stations. Both accused were out on bail at the time of this incident, highlighting the need for stricter monitoring of repeat offenders.
The police continue to investigate the matter to ensure all those involved in the crime are brought to justice.
