Ghaziabad: After 2 shootouts with cops, man dies in ‘accidental firing’

GHAZIABAD: A 22-year-old man who allegedly put up staunch resistance against a relative’s arrest, first thwarting a Delhi Police team and then taking on a UP Police team, died of a gunshot wound on Friday, apparently sustained during a scuffle with the cops just as they had managed to corner him.
Rehan, who police said was injured when his own pistol fired accidentally during the scuffle, was admitted to GTB hospital in Delhi where he succumbed to his injuries.
A Delhi Police team was in Loni to arrest Mannu alias Sohail in a vehicle theft case. Rehan allegedly tried to stop them and fired at the police team, which allowed Mannu to escape. Subsequently, a Ghaziabad police team went to the locality to arrest Rehan. As Rehan fired at the police team again, head constable Vijay Rathi (29) sustained bullet injuries. He is admitted to hospital.
Police said Rehan had a criminal record. Both he and Mannu are related to Feroz alias Fauji, the UP-based gangster who was gunned down in an encounter in 2014 by Delhi Police.
DCP (rural) Vivek Yadav said, “Around 2.30pm, a Delhi Police went to Dabar Talab to catch the accused. They were accompanied by two constables from Ankur Vihar police station. Mannu was arrested but just as they were taking him away, Rehan fired a few rounds. The Delhi cops also fired but Mannu escaped. Later, the Delhi team left. The constables informed Loni police station about the incident through wireless.”
A five-member Ghaziabad police team led by a sub-inspector subsequently went to Mannu’s house but came under fire from Mannu and Rehan, who had taken cover on the terrace of a neighbouring house. “One of the bullets hit Vijay’s shoulder,” said the DCP. Police said the exchange of fire continued for around five minutes after which the cops caught Rehan.
“When the team tried to take the pistol from his hand, it fired accidentally and a bullet hit his thigh,,” Yadav said, adding Rehan was declared dead around 9.30pm. Mannu managed to escape.
An FIR was filed against Rehan and Mannu under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act at Loni police station. Earlier this month, Shabnam (70), the oldest member of Rehan’s family, was arrested for selling narcotics. Imraan Pehalwan (41), Rehan’s father, was arrested in 2017 in an Arms Act case. In 2019, he was an accused in a murder case.
Mannu is wanted in Noida, Delhi, Baghpat and Ghaziabad in 10 cases of robbery, theft, attempt to murder and extortion. Rehan, police sources said, was booked in four cases of extortion, attempt to murder and Arms Act. This Feb, he had allegedly tried to extort a local businessman.