‘Auto-lifter’ has run-in with cops,constable hurt

The incident was reported around 12.30 pm on Friday. Three police personnel — a constable,sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspector — in plain clothes had been posted on duty outside Gate 3 of the court complex after an increasing number of auto-lifting cases were reported from the area.

The personnel,noticed a Hyundai accent with tinted glasses in the area,police said.

“One of the personnel tried stopping the car. But instead,the driver reversed the car into the cops and a couple of motorcycles coming from behind and sped off in the milieu,” said a police officer.

“Immediately,the officers sought the help of the man coming on a motorcycle and chased the car for a couple of kilometres till the car stopped at the Khirki Village traffic signal. The police personnel surrounded the car and asked the driver to lower the window. When he didn’t,the ASI pulled out his service pistol and smashed one of the window panes with the pistol butt. In the meantime,the constable tried pulling the key out,” the officer said.

“The driver immediately pushed the constable away. “He fell and suffered an injuries on the right hand. It was the ASI who recognised the driver as Kashmiri,who has been involved in several cases of robbery,auto lifting and other heinous crimes in the capital,” said the officer.

Before the police could apprehend the driver,he gave them the slip as soon as the signal turned green,police said.

Kashmiri,police said,was last arrested on December 22,2008,from Rao Tula Ram Marg,by the South Delhi police based on a tip-off about his involvement in auto lifting,snatching and extortion cases. Ten luxury cars were recovered from him and his gang. He was declared a Proclaimed Offender in 2003 in an encounter case in the Dabri area.

“We suspect that he was out on bail after his recent arrest,but we are yet to ascertain whether he was an absentee in the court cases pending against him. His involvement in other cases can be ascertained only after his arrest,” said the officer. Kashmiri hails form Mohalla Sheikh Pura in Kupwara,Jammu and Kashmir.

A case under Sections of 279 (rash driving),186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions),353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the IPC has been registered.