Ahmedabad rape accused shot in leg after snatching cop's revolver to flee
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A rape accused in Ahmedabad was shot in the leg by police on the night of 10 August after he attempted to snatch a police inspector's service revolver and escape custody during a late-night recovery panchnama in the Hebatpur area, officials confirmed. The accused, Dhram Singh, had been arrested a day earlier in connection with the rape of a 23-year-old interior design student at a paying guest accommodation in Anandnagar.
How the Confrontation Unfolded
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Shivam Varma said Singh had completed medical tests and DNA sampling before being taken to Hebatpur to assist in recovering the victim's mobile phone, which police allege he had stolen following the assault.
'During the process of this recovery panchnama, the accused, in an attempt to escape police custody, tried to snatch the service revolver of Inspector RS Parmar. A scuffle ensued, and Constable Virendrasinh was hurt in the process. An officer fired two rounds at the leg of the accused, one of which hit him. The condition of the accused and the injured constable is stable,' DCP Varma told reporters outside the hospital.
Both Singh and the injured constable were subsequently taken to GMERS Sola Civil Hospital for treatment. Singh arrived at the hospital on a stretcher with a bandage around his right foot. Senior officers, including the Joint Commissioner of Police and the DCP, reached the hospital following the incident.
Separate Case to Be Registered
Police indicated that a separate case would be registered against Dhram Singh at Bodakdev Police Station for the alleged attempt to escape custody and seize the officer's firearm. Officials added that the circumstances of the confrontation and the police response would be examined as part of the investigation.
Background: The Rape Case
Singh, originally from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, had joined the residential complex as a security guard only days before the incident. According to Joint Commissioner of Police Neeraj Badgujar, the accused allegedly placed a wire around the victim's neck, causing her to lose consciousness, before sexually assaulting her on the terrace of the building on Saturday night and fleeing with her mobile phone.
His arrest followed a manhunt involving more than 10 teams from Anandnagar police, the Local Crime Branch, and the Crime Branch. Police said he was apprehended within hours of the complaint being filed.
What Happens Next
Investigations into both the rape case and the custody confrontation are ongoing. The dual proceedings — one for the original offence and a separate one for the alleged attempt to disarm and evade police — mean Singh now faces compounded legal jeopardy. The case has drawn attention to security vetting practices at residential paying guest accommodations in the city.