Journalism of Courage
Two police personnel who tried to prevent a break-in at two flats in Narhe in the early hours of Saturday were attacked with sharp weapons by four burglars who managed to flee in a car. Police fired at the getaway vehicle,which they suspect was a stolen one,but the thieves fled. The cops had reached the residential society after an alert neighbour called the police to report a burglary at two flats. The owners were out of station.
Haveli police said that around 2.30 am the police control room got a call about a break-in at two flats at Rutugandh Society. The caller,a neighbour,said the thieves had bolted the neighbouring flats from outside. On receiving the call,inspector ASI Vaysingh Patil and a constable went to the spot and spotted four persons climbing down the stairs of the seven-storey building. When they were accosted,they attacked the police and in the scuffle,Patil sustained injuries on the hand.
Patil fired eight rounds from his revolver at the car in which the four fled. Senior inspector Shivaji Devkar said,Police teams were alerted and a nakabandi was put in place. An attempt was made to intercept them near Rajaram bridge. The car was found near a shopping mall in the morning. We do not know as of now what has been stolen from the flats. The owners are out of station.
Police suspect that the car was stolen and have launched a search for the four thieves. Devkar said Patils injury was not serious and he is out of danger. SP Manoj Kumar Lohiya said the theft came to light because of alert citizens. Senior officers said the suspect could have been nabbed if more personnel had gone to the spot.
