Criminal killed, four arrested in Pitampura shootout

A shootout between a gang of cattle thieves and the police left a criminal dead in the wee hours Saturday. Four were arrested, police said.

A policeman was injured in the firing.

"The accused are criminals involved in stealing cattle, theft and burglary," said Tejinder Luthra, joint commissioner of police.

"The incident occurred at 2 a.m. when nine policemen in three vans chased eight to nine criminals who stole five cattle and were fleeing in mini-truck," Luthra said.

The shootout began at K.N. Katju Marg when the criminals fired at police teams. Police were in three vehicles.

Police shot a tyre of the accused's van near Lok Vihar at Pitampura in North Delhi, Luthra said. The criminals drove on for around 8 km.

"The shootout continued for 25 minutes and 27 rounds were fired by police," Luthra said.

One of the criminals, Yakub, was shot dead. Sanwar, 25, Khalid, 22, Anwar, 20 and Ankur, 22, were arrested from the spot.

Two pistols and a country-made rifle were recovered from them.

"Intense checking and patrolling in the area Saturday night led the police to nab the criminals," Luthra said. - IANS