Member of an inter-state criminal gang held for firing at cop in Khalari

Ranchi: The Police on Monday night arrested a man from a forest under Hunterganj police station limits in Chatra district for firing at constable Ram Sharik Sharma in Khalari a day before.

The man, identified as Rahul Das, is a native of Chatra district. Das, police said is a member of an inter-state criminal gang and has cases registered against him in Gaya district of Bihar and Chatra and Giridih districts in Jharkhand.Ranchi SP (rural) Praveen Pushkar said, “A loaded pistol, 12 cartridges, a car and a bike have been seized in the operation.” On Sunday night, Das, along with his three accomplices, were waiting in a car in Purniray village under Khalari police station limits to loot consignments of sand and stone which are transported through the area.

The gang fired at a police patrolling party which approached the vehicle to search it.

The bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit Sharma in his left leg.“Das was trying to flee the next day when he was arrested. He confessed that this gang was involved in loot and dacoity cases in Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribag, Chatra and Giridih districts in Jharkhand and Gaya in Bihar. Raids were underway to arrest three others,” Pushkar said. Police have registered a case under sections 118(2), 109 (1), 132, 121(1), 121 (2) and 111/3(5) BNS and section 27 of Arms Act in connection with the incident.