Month after cop loses gun, auto-driver uses it to shoot neighbour

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“Since, Chand was drunk, his friends took the plastic bag from him and said they will return it the next morning. They hired an auto-rickshaw and left for their houses. However, they forgot to take the bag when they got out,” said a police officer.

The next morning, they informed Chand that they had lost the bag. Chand too did not inform his superiors of the loss. A week later, on September 18, an official from the security line armory inquired about the pistol.

Sources said Chand initially tried to mislead the official but soon revealed the whole story. He was taken into custody and a case under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) was registered against him at Tughlak Road police station.

Teams were then formed to trace the auto-rickshaw to no avail. Then, on the intervening night of November 11 and 12, police received a call that a man had shot his neighbour in Seelampur.

The accused was identified as Sushant Kumar (30). Tracing the unique number on the pistol, police found it was the same one lost by Chand. Sushant then told police that a month ago, two men had left behind a plastic bag with a pistol in his auto-rickshaw.

Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay Beniwal said a case of attempt to murder, misuse of government property and a case under the Arms Act has been registered against Sushant. Meanwhile, the constable continues to be lodged in Tihar jail.