‘Car thief’ shot dead by cops, kin allege fake encounter

A SUSPECT in a carjacking was shot dead by Delhi Police early Wednesday, following an exchange of fire in outer Delhi’s Kanjhawala area. No policeman was injured in the incident while another accused managed to flee the spot.

Joint Commissioner of Police (northern range) Sanjay Singh said, “Our police personnel were informed that some persons robbed a car from Uttam Nagar area early morning. The car was traced to a location in Kanjhawala village. The Kanjhawla police station was informed later and in the meantime, Head Constable Vikram spotted the car in Karala area at Inder Enclave.”

Singh said constable Vikram tried to intercept the car, but instead of stopping, the occupants opened fire. “Vikram also fired back. They then drove away towards Kanjhawala Chowk. We received a call from Savitri Hospital about a person having come in with a gunshot wound. Police found that it was one of the carjackers, Abhishek, who had been injured in the firing. He was moved to BSA Hospital in Rohini where he succumbed to injuries,” he said. “A case was later registered on the complaint of Vikram and the stolen car was also recovered,” Singh added.

Terming the incident a “fake encounter”, Abhishek’s family membersstagedaprotestoutside the Kanjhawala police station. “Our son was innocent... He was notinvolvedinanycarjackingand they (police) have falsely implicated him,” said his uncle Suresh Kumar.

Abhishek, who was ‘killed in an encounter’.