Yamunanagar encounter: Notorious criminal shot dead; SI injured

YAMUNANAGAR: A fierce encounter broke out late on Friday night between Haryana Police and a wanted criminal in the Radaur police station area. In the crossfire, a notorious criminal, Rajat Kumar of Shergarh, was shot dead by police in retaliatory action.Rajat was associated with a local gang involved in threatening businessmen and traders to extort money. He had recently opened fire at businesses in the district.During the gunfight, Sub-Inspector Rakesh Kumar of CIA-II Yamunanagar sustained a bullet injury to his shoulder. He was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital in Yamunanagar, where he is undergoing treatment. Rajat was also taken to the hospital but succumbed to multiple bullet injuries, said Yamunanagar SP Kamaldeep Goyal.SP Goyal personally reached the hospital to review the situation and ensure proper care for the injured officer. Heavy police deployment was made at both the hospital and the encounter site to maintain law and order.Rajat Kumar, who carried a bounty of Rs 50,000, was wanted in several serious criminal cases and had been evading arrest for a long time. Acting on specific intelligence about his movement, the CIA team set up a checkpoint in Radaur.

Rajat allegedly opened fire on police, prompting retaliatory action.SP Goyal stated that the police acted with full alertness and fired only in self-defence. The injured officer’s condition is stable and under observation.“On September 14, firing incidents took place at Model Town, Yamunanagar, and later at a liquor shop in Ladwa. Credible information suggested the presence of one of the accused in Radaur. The CIA-II team engaged him on the Shamli-Ambala highway,” said SP Goyal.

Around 16 to 17 bullets were fired during the encounter.In a separate incident late Friday night, CIA-I Kurukshetra engaged another criminal near Sonti village. One accused was injured in police retaliation. The man was allegedly involved in recent firing incidents at liquor shops in Ladwa and Yamunanagar.Following the back-to-back encounters in Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra, security has been tightened across the region, and police have launched further operations to apprehend remaining members of the criminal network.