Panipat Police arrested three wanted criminals following an encounter near Jalpad village on the Panipat-Khatima National Highway (NH-709-AD) late Wednesday evening.
These criminals were wanted in connection with the robbery and murder of Harshad Kumar, a Chief Manager at the State Bank of India (SBI) in Hisar. Two of the criminals sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter and have been admitted to the Civil Hospital.
SP Bhupendra Singh stated that the injured accused have been identified as Naveen from Dabar Colony and Sachin from Subhash Nagar, while the third accused has been identified as Sharad, alias Jogi, also from Dabar Colony.
SP Bhupendra Singh explained that Harshad Kumar was returning from Hisar late at night on June 1. When he reached the area behind Mittal Mega Mall in Sector 25, three youths on a motorcycle attacked him and robbed him of his gold chain, silver bracelet, wallet, and mobile phone. When he resisted, the criminals struck him on the head with a screwdriver and fled the scene.
The Chief Manager was admitted to a private hospital in Delhi, where he succumbed to his injuries on June 5.
SP Bhupendra Singh handed over the investigation to the CIA-1 team. The team received a tip-off on Wednesday and apprehended the accused, Sharad (alias Jogi), on Kutani Road. Later in the evening, Inspector Phool Kumar, the in-charge of CIA-1, received information regarding the remaining two accused. Acting on this information, the police team reached the vicinity of Jalpad village, where the accused were hiding in the fields along NH-709-AD.
Upon spotting the police, they opened fire at the team. The police returned fire in self-defense. Both accused sustained gunshot wounds to their legs.
The police apprehended the accused and admitted them to the Civil Hospital. The team also recovered two country-made pistols and two live cartridges from their possession.
SP Bhupendra Singh stated that the preliminary investigation reveals Sachin to be the mastermind of the gang. The police recovered the bracelet stolen from Harshad from Sharad’s possession. The SP stated that the accused, Sharad, was produced in court, which remanded him to police custody for three days. SP Bhupendra Singh mentioned that three cases of robbery are registered against Naveen at the Sector 13/17 and City police stations. Similarly, three cases are registered against Sharad at the Sector 13/17, Kila, and Gharaunda police stations. The SP added that both accused were out on bail.
