Auto-lifting gang opens fire at cops, manages to flee

In light of the increasing number of auto-theft cases in the national Capital, a gang of four auto-lifters managed to escape when they opened fire at a police team in the Janakpuri area of West district on Friday night.

According to the police, they recovered a stolen Fortuner car on Thursday with the help of the CCTV footage of the neighbouring area. While analysing the CCTV footage, they discovered that a white Swift car was also stolen by the gang. In a bid to put a stop to such incidents, local police increased night patrolling. 

According to a senior police official, they arrested two persons identified as Ram Achal and Mustafa Ali on Friday night at around 11.30 pm from near Bharti College. Police recovered cutters and iron rods from their possession. According to the police, they traced the white Swift car in the A1-block after arresting those two persons while the police team was patrolling the area. The SHO of Janakpuri police station along with his team laid a trap where they were dressed up as civilians to stop them but when the gang sensed that these civilians were policemen, they started firing at them. In order to save themselves, the policemen too opened fire but the gang escaped.

A case has been registered at the Janakpuri police station under Sections 186 ( Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 353( Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC against the accused persons. Further investigation is underway.