Midnight encounter in Ghaziabad; criminal held

Amidst high alert for the Republic Day in the National Capital Region, sounds of gunfire broke the silence of the night on the outskirts of Delhi when an encounter took place in Ghaziabad after which a wanted criminal was nabbed by police.
The incident took place in Kavi Nagar area at around 1.30 am when a speeding car was signalled by police to stop at a barricade set up for checking in view of the Republic Day.
The policemen at the barricade signalled the car to stop for checking, SHO Ashok Shisodia said, adding the driver, however, crashed the vehicle into the barricade and fired at the cops.

In retaliation, police party fired back and nabbed one of the occupants, he said.
The encounter took place at a time when Delhi and its adjoining areas are on high alert for the Republic Day celebrations which will be attended by the country's top leadership and French President Francois Hollande in the national capital tomorrow.
The nabbed person was identified as Ankit alias Rajiv Dixit (28), Shisodia said. His accomplice Sonu fled the spot by taking advantage of smog, the police officer said.

During interrogation,Ankit allegedly confessed that he is an active member of Chotu Pahadi gang which committed robbery of Rs 1.08 crore on June 2 last year near Oriental Bank of Commercein Raj Nagar area of Ghaziabad, Shisodia said.

Ankit carries a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head, announced by Keshav Puram Police station of New Delhi.
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Later Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sanctioned an ex
gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of sub-inspector Khan.
"CM Akhilesh Yadav has sanctioned an ex gratia for (the kin of) sub-inspector Akhtar Khan, who was killed in an encounter with police this morning in Dadri area of GB Nagar," an official release issued here said.