A 42-year-old man with a string of cases to his name was killed in an alleged encounter with the Palghar police in Nalasopara on Monday afternoon.
According to the police, the incident occurred in the Radha Nagar area. Constables Manoj Sakpal and Mangesh Chavan, posted with the local crime branch of the Palghar police, were on their way to their Vasai office when they spotted Jogendra Rana. “The constables remembered that he was wanted in a case of theft registered with us. They went up to Rana, who had a friend with him, to arrest him. But Rana’s friend fled and Rana put up a fight,” an officer with the Palghar police said.
Rana, after assaulting the two constables, started running away and the constables gave chase. After around five minutes, the policemen caught up to him and tried to overpower him. Rana whipped out a dagger and stabbed Mr. Chavan in the stomach. He slashed at Mr. Sakpal, injuring him on his arm. Mr. Chavan shot Rana once in self-defence with his service weapon.
“The bullet hit Rana on the shoulder and he fell, but still tried attacking Mr. Sakpal. Mr. Chavan fired once more, hitting Rana on the thigh, before falling to the ground himself,” the police officer said.
Mr. Sakpal called the police control room and a team reached the spot with two ambulances. Rana and Mr. Chavan were taken to a nearby hospital, where Rana was declared dead before admission. Mr. Chavan was referred to the civic hospital in Virar, where he is in the ICU.
Superintendent of Police (Palghar) Manjunath Singe said, “Mr. Chavan is currently in critical condition. We are conducting inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the shootout.”
Officials said Rana had cases like robbery, dacoity and assault on a public servant registered against him with the Bandra, Juhu, Khar and Kandivali police stations in Mumbai and some with police stations in Palghar.
The Tulinj police, in whose jurisdiction the encounter occurred, have posthumously booked Rana for attempt to murder and assault with intent to deter a public servant from discharging his duty under the Indian Penal Code.