SI shoots at, nabs chain snatcher

Police opened fire at a notorious chain snatcher and arrested him on Tuesday. This is the third incident in the last six days in which the police shot at miscreants who tried to attack them and escape.

Kumaraswamy Layout station’s sub-inspector Ashok Kumar A N, shot at notorious chain snatcher and extortionist Mohammed Dastagir alias Dastu, 22, who resides behind Banashankari temple in Sarabandepalya. Abhijit M G , a constable attached to the same police station, sustained injuries in the incident.

Police said Dastu was wanted in an attempt to murder case reported on Sunday in Kumaraswamy Layout police station limits and police received a credible information that he was hiding in an under-construction building at J C Industrial Area in Yelachenahalli. Sub-inspector Ashok, along with constable Abhijit, who were on night duty, went to the building to arrest him around 3.30 am on Tuesday.

On seeing them, Dastu allegedly attacked Abhijit with a dagger and the latter sustained injuries on his hands.

Despite warning, Dastu allegedly tried to attack the sub-inspector also. To ensure his and his subordinate’s safety, the sub-inspector opened fire from his service pistol and the bullet struck into the left thigh of Dastu. “Later, Dastu and the injured constable were shifted to hospitals. Dastu is involved in over 15 cases of extortion, chain snatching, house burglary and other cases from last three years,” the police added.

A case has been registered at Kumaraswamy Layout police station in this connection.