Ghaziabad (UP), June 13 (IANS) A criminal, facing more than half a dozen cases across the Delhi-NCR and carrying a reward of Rs 50,000, was arrested following an encounter in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district, where he sustained gunshot injuries to both legs and was subsequently hospitalised, police said on Saturday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Siddharth Gautam said that the abduction of Omkar Singh from Ganauli village, under the Loni police station area of Ghaziabad, was reported on May 30, and efforts to arrest those involved in the incident had been underway since then.

Gautam said that police received information about the accused in early on Saturday. Acting on the tip-off, a police team launched a checking operation near the canal on the Banthla-Chirodi Road. During the operation, a white car was seen approaching from Banthla towards Chirodi. When signalled to stop, the driver ignored the order and attempted to flee.

The police team pursued the vehicle. During the chase, the car went out of control and crashed into a tree. Taking advantage of the situation, the accused tried to escape and opened fire at the police team. In retaliatory firing, the police shot the accused in both legs.

The ACP added that the injured accused was taken into custody and later shifted to a hospital for treatment. The ACP said that the arrested criminal was identified as Gaurav Nagar. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime, admitting that he and his accomplices had abducted Omkar Singh and later murdered him and dumped his body in Ganganagar on the Rohta-Meerut Road.

A pistol and four cartridges were recovered from the accused at the time of his arrest following the encounter, the ACP said. He added that Nagar was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000. Legal proceedings in the matter are currently underway.

–IANS

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