An unidentified robber was killed, while his aide escaped on a police motorcycle during their exchange of fire with the police in Noida on Thursday.
The incident occurred around 1.15 pm when the police in Sector-82 received a call that two bike-borne robbers had snatched cash from a person and were escaping.
A Noida police cop and a homeguard started chasing them on “Leopard” motorcycle (Noida police’s patrol motorcycle). They intercepted the duo 400 metres off the Greater Noida Expressway.
The man riding pillion fired at the police and a bullet hit homeguard Arun in the thigh.
Constable Subhash Chand then opened fire and the bullet hit the pillion rider in the chest and he fell down. Their motorcycle fell and the second accused began fleeing.
“Our constable gave him a chase but the he began firing at him with two pistols. This unsettled the constable and the accused snatched the police motorcycle from him and fled,” said senior superintendent of police (Noida), Amitabh Yash.
He added that while some accounts put the number of shots fired by the fleeing accused to about 15, it appeared that he may have fired eight to nine rounds. “Some locals threw stones at him but he managed to escape,” said the officer.
Citing claims by some eyewitnesses, Mr Yash said that the fleeing suspect also fired at his injured mate.
The SSP said that the police is yet to come across the person who is said to have been looted.
The suspect shot in the chest was taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. A pistol of .32 bore was recovered from him.
A case of attempt to robbery and attempt to murder has been registered at the Noida Phase-II police station.
“We are trying to identify the deceased. Once his identity is established, we would be able to trace the absconding suspect too,” said Mr Yash.
The homeguard Arun was taken to a nearby hospital where his condition is reported to be out of danger.