The Hindu : Cop nabs fleeing robber

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Cop nabs fleeing robber

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 2. A brave and determined constable chased and caught a man who had allegedly robbed an autorickshaw driver along with his two accomplices at Janakpuri in West Delhi on Sunday night. His accomplices managed to escape.

According to the police, Rajkumar, a Sangam Vihar resident, was waiting in his autorickshaw near Mongolpuri bus stand when three persons approached him around 9-30 p.m. They hired him to go to Uttam Nagar bus terminal. When the vehicle reached Dhauli Piao on Najafgarh Road near Janakpuri district centre, one of the occupants - later identified as Liaqat, an alleged bad character of Mongolpuri police station - asked Rajkumar to stop. He told him that he was going to meet his cousin who works on the Metro rail site. Sometime, later he returned with a knife and threatened Rajkumar. His accomplice, later identified as Rakesh, too whipped out a knife and forced Rajkumar to part with Rs. 595 he was carrying. The third person, identified as Rajesh, took away his wristwatch. Liaqat then pulled Rajkumar out of the autorickshaw and was about to drive away when Rajkumar raised an alarm.

Constable Mahesh Pratap, posted at Rajouri Garden police station in West Delhi, who was going home on his motorcycle after signing off for the day happened to pass by. He immediately tried to stop the trio from fleeing. However, the trio brandished knives at him forcing him to withdraw as he was unarmed. He had also submitted his wireless set at the police station. Taking advantage of the situation, the trio fled. But Mahesh began chasing them.

After reaching Uttam Nagar terminal, the trio took a U-turn and then took another turn on Outer Ring Road. After about 20 minutes of chase, Mahesh managed to intercept the autorickshaw near Keshopur Subzi Mandi on Outer Ring Road. As Mahesh got down from the motorcycle to catch them, Rajesh tried to stab him. But, he was overpowered. The other two tried to free Rajesh and in the ensuing scuffle, Mahesh also sustained minor injuries. However, Mahesh did not let Rajesh go out of his grip. His accomplices then escaped.

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