Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Rudrapur: A joint operation by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Kashipur and Rudrapur, along with local police, in the wee hours on Thursday, led to the arrest of Mohammad Furkan, a notorious criminal involved in multiple robberies and dacoities across the region.
Furkan, a native of Moradabad, had been on the run following a series of robberies committed with his gang on January 5 and 6 in Kashipur’s Penga area of district Udham Singh Nagar. Between January 15 and 18, the gang also targeted three villages around Afzalgarh in Uttar Pradesh. .
Acting on intelligence, the police team, including Sub-Inspector Diwan Singh and Constable Rajendra from Rudrapur SOG, and led by Praveen Goswami from Kashipur SOG, initiated a coordinated operation in the Penga area. Upon confrontation, Furkan opened fire, prompting the police to retaliate. He sustained injuries during the exchange and was subsequently arrested.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manikant Mishra, arrived at the scene post-encounter to assess the situation. SP Mishra said, “The police acted promptly to nab the accused, ensuring the safety of the public.”
Over the past five months, Uttarakhand police have intensified their crackdown on criminal activities. In 2024 alone, the state witnessed over 36 encounters, resulting in the arrest of more than 40 individuals and the death of at least two. A senior police official said that these actions are in direct response to criminals initiating violence. “In the encounters, police didn’t open fire first. It was always the criminals”, he added.
SSP Mishra said, “The arrest of Furkan marks an achievement in the ongoing efforts to curb crime in the district. We will maintain law and order at any cost. This campaign against criminals will continue with the same vigor in the future.”
