Rs.25 lakh looted in Ghaziabad, recovered in three hours

Three robbers on Thursday looted over Rs.25 lakh in cash from cattle traders in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh and fled in a car, but police acted swiftly to nab the robbers as well as recover the money in Ghaziabad.

Police in Ghaziabad's Modinagar area received a wireless message at 11 a.m. that robbers looted Rs.25.5 lakh in cash from cattle traders in Kharkhauda in Meerut district and escaped in a car. Police subsequently launched a car check in Modinagar area.

Meanwhile, two police constables patrolling in Nangla Musa village saw a similar car on the service road of the Upper Ganges Canal, and tried to stop it.

Instead of stopping, the robbers fired at the police personnel and ran into a sugarcane field.

The constables immediately informed the police high command and senior officers rushed to the spot and engaged the robbers in a gun battle.

During the exchange of fire, constable Anil sustained two bullet injuries and was rushed to hospital.

Police launched a manhunt in the area and succeeded in nabbing the three robbers -- Vikas, a resident of Ramala Baghpat; Pradeep, a resident of Tateeri; and Amit, a resident of Rohini in Delhi.

One of the three robbers, Amit, also sustained a gunshot injury and was taken to a hospital.

During questioning, they confessed that they had looted the cattle traders.

Police recovered Rs.25.5 lakh in cash, two pistols of 9mm and of .32 calibre, cartridges and the car.

"The criminal history of the robbers is being checked. Police are trying to look into other cases of robbery during their interrogation," said Brijesh Sharma, police inspector in Modinagar.