5 hurt, 3 held in police shootout with Khatta gang
Ghaziabad: Two sharpshooters belonging to west UP’s notorious gang led by Rahul Khatta were nabbed by the Ghaziabad police following a brief shootout in Masuri on Thursday morning. Their three accomplices, however, managed to escape. Three constables, besides the two sharpshooters, were injured and were admitted to different hospitals.
One of the sharpshooters, Dharmendra alias Diwan, carried rewards of Rs 15,000 in Shamli and Rs 25,000 in Delhi.
Dharmendra and the other sharpshooter, Rahul, sustained bullet injuries on their legs while constables Irfan, Vijay Sharma, Vishal Rathi sustained minor injuries.
According to the police, Dharmendra’s i20 car bearing UP registration number was intercepted following a tip-off. Barricades were set up at Dasna toll plaza but the car occupants sped left from NH-24 towards Adhyatmik Nagar.
“The criminals, however, got trapped at Rafiqabad level crossing in Masuri, which had been closed. Dharmendra and Rahul stepped out of the car and opened fire on the police team following them. Three of their accomplices, one of whom has been identified as Chinu, fled,” said SP (City) Salmantaj Patil.
The i20 car along with two .32 bore pistols, one .315 bore country-made revolver and a cache of cartridges have been seized.
