Car thief shot dead in Delhi

A car thief was shot dead by a police officer after he opened fire on a policeman Monday afternoon, police said.

The incident was reported from village Sannoth in west Delhi's Narela area around 3.30 p.m.

The thief, along with an associate, reached Sannoth village after robbing an Endeavour car at gunpoint around 2.15 p.m. Monday from west Delhi's Rohini.

"As soon as the thief reached Sannoth village, constables Baljit Singh Chahal and A.S. Bohara spotted the car without number plates," said Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Kumar.

"Both the constables surrounded the car and challenged the culprits. As the constables tried to force the culprits out of the vehicle, a scuffle occurred. The thief opened fire and constable Baljeet Singh sustained a bullet injury in his right thigh," the officer said.

The constables fired in retaliation, and one of the two men was injured, while the other managed to escape in the commotion, the officer said.

The injured man, appearing to be in his mid-30s, was taken to Maharshi Balmiki Hospital, where he was declared dead.

"Efforts are on to establish the identity of the criminal. A hunt has been launched to nab the man who escaped," the officer said.