In a sweeping 72-hour crime crackdown, police teams across the Meerut Zone carried out 16 self-defence operations, arresting 21 criminals, including a wanted man named Shahnawaz, and injuring 18 miscreants during shootouts.
The encounters were conducted in Meerut (1), Bulandshahr (2), Baghpat (2), Hapur (1), Saharanpur (3), Muzaffarnagar (5), and Shamli (2).
In Sardhana, Meerut, Shahnawaz—accused of robbery—opened fire at officers while trying to retrieve stolen goods hidden near a canal. He was shot and arrested along with two accomplices; looted jewellery was recovered.
In Bulandshahr, two Moradabad-based criminals were injured in a checkpoint shootout. A separate encounter led to the arrest of an accused in a child rape case.
Baghpat police nabbed bike-borne chain snatchers and a loot accused during encounters, recovering weapons and stolen property.
In Hapur, four suspects involved in oil theft were arrested after a gunfight injured one of them.
Muzaffarnagar saw the most action, with five encounters leaving six criminals injured. Multiple stolen vehicles, firearms, and cash were seized.
Saharanpur police injured three criminals in separate incidents, recovering looted items and weapons.
“This intensified action sends a clear message that criminal elements will not be tolerated. Police will respond with appropriate force when attacked,” said Bhanu Bhaskar, Additional Director General (ADG), Meerut Zone.
