Haridwar encounter foils illegal arms supply; one shot, two arrested in Bahadrabad
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A suspected illegal firearms supply operation was disrupted on Sunday after a police encounter in the Bahadrabad area of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, leaving one accused with a bullet injury in his leg and two others in custody. The operation, carried out by the Bahadrabad police team, also led to the recovery of multiple firearms and live ammunition.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navneet Singh Bhullar, police received a tip-off that a group of criminals was headed to the Grand Lajja locality in Bahadrabad to deliver pistols. Acting swiftly, officers laid an ambush and cordoned off the area before the suspects arrived.
Three men reached the location on two motorcycles. While police managed to apprehend Vishal and Bhupendra on the spot, the third accused, Mukul, fled into an adjoining sugarcane field and allegedly opened fire at the police team. Officers retaliated, hitting Mukul in the leg. He was subsequently brought under control and taken to a hospital for treatment.
Accused Identified and Weapons Recovered
The three accused have been identified as Vishal (25), a resident of Valmiki Basti in Bahadrabad; Bhupendra (23), a resident of Muzaffarnagar; and Mukul (25), a resident of Sardhana in Meerut. Police recovered two pistols, live cartridges, and a country-made .315-bore pistol from their possession.
Senior Officer Reviews Encounter
SSP Bhullar personally visited the hospital to check on the injured accused's medical condition and review the details of the encounter. The visit signals the seriousness with which senior officials are treating the incident, particularly given the nature of the alleged arms trafficking.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are now probing the criminal backgrounds of all three accused and working to map the broader network behind the illegal firearms supply chain. Police have not ruled out the involvement of additional individuals and are actively investigating whether a larger gang is operating in the region. This comes amid ongoing concerns about the circulation of illegal weapons in western Uttarakhand and adjoining districts of western Uttar Pradesh.