Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Sangat alias Sangi, the main accused in the Peepal Parao Range firing on forest department personnel, was arrested after sustaining injuries in a police encounter near Gadarpur late Wednesday night. On September 6, Sangat and his associates opened fire on forest officials, injuring Ranger Roop Narayan Gautam and three others during a confrontation with timber smugglers. Based on the ranger’s complaint, Sangat and other suspects were charged, including Gurmeet alias Geji, Kuldeep, Sandeep, and Sarvjeet alias Sabbi.
According to District’s SSP Manikant Mishra, police officers were conducting a routine check near Beriya underpass in Gadarpur when they signaled a suspicious motorcyclist to stop. “Instead of complying, the rider fired at the officers and attempted to flee,” SSP Mishra said. The police pursued him towards Motiapur-Dineshpur, where Sangat sought cover behind a tree and opened fire again. In the ensuing encounter, he was injured by a police bullet to his left leg.
Following initial treatment at CHC Gadarpur, Sangat was transferred to the JL Nehru district hospital in Rudrapur. He is accused in 46 cases involving violations of the Forest Act and Indian Penal Code, and has reportedly been evading police by appealing to the High Court to stay legal actions against him. “We’re compiling additional records on his criminal activities across UP police stations,” said SSP Mishra, adding that action will also be taken against individuals who sheltered Sangat and all suspects in the forest firing case will face justice.
Sangat’s arrest marks the fifth police encounter under SSP Mishra’s two-month tenure, during which four other suspects involved in serious offenses were similarly injured. On September 24, robbery suspect Dilshad was arrested in Jaspur after being injured in a retaliatory police firing. Similarly, on September 25, history-sheeter Sajid was nabbed in Missarwala of Kashipur, sustaining a leg injury. On October 17, Baljeet Singh, wanted for shooting at police, was captured from the Ransali Range jungle, while Jaspal, another suspect, was arrested in Pulbhatta on October 26 following a similar exchange. Each encounter involved criminals who fired at police in an attempt to escape but were injured in the response.
Earlier on Tuesday night Swarn Singh, alias Sonu, who was part of a group of armed assailants which ambushed forest department officials in Peepal Parao Forest was arrested by the police.
