Police personnel during the investigation into the Kurukshetra Sector 7 robbery case.
Police say accused opened fire while being taken to recover weapons; both sustained leg injuries and were admitted to hospital
KURUKSHETRA | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
The investigation into the alleged robbery at the residence of advocate Balwant Singh Walia in Sector 7, Kurukshetra, took a dramatic turn when two accused allegedly opened fire on a police team during a weapon-recovery operation near Umri Chowk. Police retaliated, injuring both accused in their legs before taking them into custody and shifting them to hospital for treatment.
According to police, the CIA-1 team led by Inspector Prateek Kumar reached the Plower City area near Umri Chowk late Tuesday night after questioning the accused in connection with the robbery. The suspects were taken to the location on the basis of information regarding weapons allegedly used in the crime. While the police team was searching bushes in an empty plot, the two accused allegedly took out concealed weapons and fired at the police personnel before attempting to flee.
Police said they responded with retaliatory fire, during which both accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs. They fell at the spot and were immediately apprehended. Police claimed to have recovered an unlicensed country-made pistol from the accused and said that a total of seven rounds were fired from both sides during the incident. The circumstances surrounding the firing and the recovered weapon are being investigated.
The encounter is linked to the robbery reported at advocate Balwant Singh Walia’s Sector 7 residence on the night of August 6. According to police, four youths allegedly entered the house at around 10 pm and held the advocate and his wife hostage at gunpoint before escaping with cash, jewellery and other valuables. Police said approximately Rs 20 lakh in cash, 1.5 to 2 kilograms of gold jewellery, nearly four kilograms of silver ornaments, a licensed revolver, 30 cartridges and other valuables were allegedly looted.
A case was registered at City Thanesar police station on August 7 following the advocate’s complaint, with the investigation handed over to CIA-1 and CIA-2 teams. Police subsequently arrested Kamal of Panipat and Sahil alias Lala of Sonipat on August 10. Police claimed that Rs 5.5 lakh was recovered from their possession and that both were sent on nine-day police remand after being produced before a court.
During the investigation, Delhi resident Rajeev alias Bobi was arrested on August 14. Police said questioning of the accused led investigators to information about weapons allegedly used in the robbery and concealed near Plower City.
The investigation subsequently resulted in the arrest of Prince alias Panchi of Panipat and Shiv Kumar alias Shibba of Gannaur on August 16. Police claimed that gold and silver ornaments, idols, around Rs 4.5 lakh in cash and a vehicle allegedly used in the crime were recovered from Prince, while Rs 1 lakh in cash was reportedly recovered from Shiv Kumar. Police said approximately Rs 15 lakh in cash has so far been recovered from the accused.
The latest development occurred when Kamal and Sahil were taken to the area near Umri Chowk for recovery of the weapons. Police said that while the team was searching the bushes in an empty plot on the accused’s directions, they allegedly took out weapons and opened fire. The suspects also allegedly attempted to escape, prompting the police team to retaliate. Both accused sustained injuries to their legs and were subsequently taken into custody and admitted to the civil hospital.
Police are continuing to investigate the alleged firing, the recovered weapon and the entire robbery conspiracy. Investigators are also trying to establish whether other persons were involved in the crime, where the remaining stolen property is located and how the accused allegedly conducted reconnaissance of the advocate’s residence before the robbery.
Police said interrogation and further recoveries may provide additional information about the wider network allegedly involved in the case. The investigationremains underway.
