UP criminal shot dead in encounter hours after robbery in Doon

Dehradun: A wanted criminal facing 16 cases was shot dead in a police encounter late Wednesday night, just hours after he and two associates allegedly robbed a property dealer and fired at him in the Premnagar area of Dehradun, police said Thursday.Garhwal IG Rajeev Swaroop told reporters that police received a distress call around 10:30 pm via the emergency helpline. “The victim, Devraj, a building contractor, reported that the criminals intercepted his two-wheeler, robbed him of a gold chain, ₹2 lakh in cash, and his mobile phone at gunpoint, and also fired at him. They fled in a Gujarat-registered car,” Swaroop said.Responding swiftly, a team led by Premnagar SHO Naresh Rathore reached the spot. Before being taken to hospital, Devraj directed police towards the escape route. The team soon spotted the suspects’ car. When signalled to stop, the criminals opened fire with country-made pistols. They then abandoned the vehicle and fled into a nearby forest, continuing to shoot at the pursuing officers. SHO Rathore was hit in the arm during the exchange. Police retaliated, injuring one of the suspects, identified as Akram Ali, 36, a resident of Shamli, UP.SSP Dobal confirmed that the other two suspects managed to escape in the darkness. “Rathore and Ali were rushed to hospital, where Ali succumbed to his injuries. Before dying, Ali revealed he had come to Dehradun to attend a court hearing scheduled for Thursday. He had previously been arrested in 2017 for involvement in a 2014 dacoity and murder in Raipur and was facing 16 criminal cases,” Dobal said.Police have since set up barricades at key entry and exit points across the city to track down the fugitives. Both Rathore and Devraj are reported to be in stable condition.