Criminal arrested for opening fire at shopkeepers in Gzb

Ghaziabad: A wanted criminal who is accused of opening fire on a few shopkeepers at a busy market street in Loni area of Ghaziabad has been arrested by police. Cops said that the accused is wanted in over a dozen cases of robbery, theft and arms

act.

According to police, the arrested accused has been identified as Virendra Kumar, a native of Loni area.

"The accused along with two of his accomplices opened fire at shopkeepers while they were sitting at their shops as they wanted to threaten them for extortion" said police officials.

Raj Kumar Pandey, Circle Officer, Loni told Millennium Post that the accused persons are members of a gang which commit heinous crimes such as robbery, extortion, vehicle theft and others.

"During interrogations, the arrested accused confessed to have committed the crime as they were wanted in a criminal case earlier and were absconding and all of them wanted to stay together in same jail," said Pandey.

"Kumar told police that his accomplices Manjeet and Gaurav were present along with him when they opened fire at shopkeepers while Ankit and Abhishek recce the area. They had planned to throw a slip at the spot with Abhishek's name written over it as they thought Abhishek would be shifted to some other jail when they are arrested but if he will be found accused in the firing incident along with them, they all will get chance to stay together in same jail," added Pandey.

The officer further said that Kumar was arrested near Nithora gate in Loni area on late Sunday night during police checking.

"We have recovered an illegal pistol along with live ammunition and the motorcycle used in crime which was stolen from Khekra area before committing the crime. We have also formed teams to nab Ankit and Gaurav who are absconding after the incident," the CO said.