2 Rajasthan men held after encounter in Dehradun, 4 escape

Dehradun: Two men from Rajasthan were arrested while four others escaped after a brief exchange of fire with Dehradun police in the Premnagar area early Thursday. Police said the group was allegedly planning “to commit a major crime in Vikasnagar area, but their plan was foiled at the checkpost.”

The incident took place around 3.30am when police personnel at Nayagaon checkpost in Premnagar signalled a Rajasthan-registered car to stop for routine checking. “Instead of stopping, the occupants sped away and tried to run over police personnel deployed at the checkpost,” said Dehradun SP (City) Pramod Kumar.

After a chase of a few kilometres, the occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled towards a secluded area. “While trying to escape, they opened fire at the police personnel with country-made weapons. Police retaliated, and one of the accused sustained a bullet injury in his leg. Another was caught by the police team, while four others managed to escape. The injured accused was taken to hospital,” Kumar said.

Police seized the car along with two country-made pistols and four live cartridges.The injured was identified as Rinku Meena, 30, a resident of Dausa district in Rajasthan, while the other arrested was identified as Vinod Kumar Meena, 32, a resident of Karauli district.

Police said Rinku has more than six criminal cases registered against him, including cases of murder and rape. The identities of the four absconding accused have been ascertained and efforts are underway to arrest them, officials said.