Criminals in police custody attacked by | Rival Gang

Unknown assailants attacked two criminals who were being transported by Bulandshahr police to Amroha for a hearing on Tuesday, injuring one of the two criminals.

The police suspect the attack was fallout of rivalry between two gangs.

The two criminals — Pintoo and Chandra Veer — belong to the infamous Debu gang and were arrested for cases of theft and dishonestly capturing property.

According to the police, Pintoo and Veer were accompanied by three policemen of Bulandshahr Police and had come to Hapur in a Roadways bus. "The police don't have resources to take criminals to courts in other districts, so we use public transport system," a senior police officer said.

Around 9 am on Tuesday, all five were headed to Hapur railway station — two criminals were on one rickshaw with a constable and two constables were on another rickshaw — when they were attacked. "Near Seesganj crossing, the assailants threw red chilly powder at the two constables on the other rickshaw and started shooting," Satish Chand, Circle Officer, Hapur, said.

Eyewitnesses said there were three assailants and there were firing at Pintoo. A bullet hit Pintoo in the throat.

"Pintoo was admitted to Khan Nursing Home after he was shot by suspected members of another gang," Akhil Kumar, SSP, Ghaziabad, said.

A passerby, Jeetendra, was also injured in the shootout when a bullet grazed his shoulder.

A case has been registered against unknown assailants at Hapur police station and investigations are on, the police said.