Policemen save fleeing criminals from drowning

NEW DELHI: Cops chasing three armed robbers became their rescuers after the two of them, in a bid to outrun the sleuths, jumped into the Najafgarh drain and started drowning. The three boys had stopped an e-rickshaw and robbed it at knifepoint from outside a housing society in Dwarka Sector 19.

According to DCP (Dwarka) Anto Alphonse, two of the accused have been identified as Amir and Bijender while the third, a juvenile, has been sent to a correction home.

The incident took place on Wednesday when an e-rickshaw driver was going to Dwarka Sector 19. He was stopped by three men who asked to be taken to Dhulsiras village. As they started travelling, one of the accused pulled out a knife and threatened to hurt the driver. The accused men then took the driver’s cash and told him to get off the vehicle.

As the men fled, the rickshaw driver informed the cops and a PCR message was circulated in the area. Teams stationed nearby were alerted and the colour of the accused’s t-shirts was relayed to them.

A police van spotted the e-rickshaw and started chasing it. Passersby, who saw the chase, also joined in and started following the e-rickshaw. Panicking, the robbers took a swift turn and started driving towards Najafgarh drain.

As the team, led by ACP (Dwarka) Rajender Singh drew closer, Amir and the juvenile jumped from the moving e-rickshaw into the drain even as their third associate drove away with the vehicle. The police team stopped following the e-rickshaw and instead went down the forested path in a bid to trace the duo.

Cops spotted Amir trying to swim to the other side. But midway, he lost his strength and started drowning. Police, in the meantime, alerted the fire department to get in their rescue teams. Realising that the men may drown before any help arrived, one of the cops jumped in the drain and rescued the robber. The juvenile was later nabbed after a search operation, which lasted for more than two hours.

Subsequently, cops questioned the duo about the third associate who revealed his location. A team raided Bijender’s house and arrested him with the stolen e-rickshaw.