Ghaziabad (UP), February 15 Two alleged phone snatchers, both residents of Delhi, and active in the trans-Hindon area of Ghaziabad district, were arrested following an encounter here on Saturday evening, police said.
The accused have been identified as Rohit Panchal (27) and Nikhil Sagar (26), both residents of Mansarovar Park in Delhi's Shahdara area, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sahibabad) Shewta Yadav said.
A police team stationed at a checkpoint near the Sahibabad railway station underpass signaled two suspects on motorcycles approaching Sahibabad from the Link road police station area to stop.
Instead of stopping, they allegedly sped away, with the police team pursuing them closely, the officer said.
Subsequently, the accused allegedly opened fire at the police in an attempt to escape. Police fired in self-defense, and one of the two suspects, Rohit, sustained a bullet injury in his leg, she said, adding that the duo was then apprehended.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to snatching mobile phones in the Rajendra Nagar Colony on January 19 and 21. The duo have been booked in around a dozen criminal cases in various police stations of Delhi and Ghaziabad, the officer said.
Police have recovered two country-made pistols, cartridges, and a stolen motorcycle from their possession, Yadav added.
