Mathura, Oct 15 — Two criminals were arrested early on Thursday following an encounter in the Magorra police station area of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura after they kidnapped a young man and demanded ransom from his father, officials said.
Both accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs during the exchange of fire and were taken to the district hospital for treatment.
The operation was jointly conducted by teams from Raya, Jait and Magorra police stations.
According to police, on October 14, the accused kidnapped a young man in an SUV bearing registration number UP 85 CJ 4141 from the Raya area and demanded ransom from his father. Following the incident, police launched a search operation and set up checkpoints across the district.
During the pursuit, police received information that the suspects had broken through a barricade and fled towards Sonkh Road.
A joint police team subsequently established a cordon near Lalpur Canal Bridge in the Magorra police station area. On seeing the police, the suspects drove the SUV onto a canal track, where the vehicle became uncontrollable and got stuck.
Police said the suspects then opened fire on the police team. In retaliatory firing in self-defence, both accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs and were apprehended.
The arrested accused have been identified as Rajat, 23, a resident of Hathras, and Manish, 22, a resident of Mathura.
During the operation, police recovered two illegal pistols, two live cartridges, three empty .315-bore cartridges and the SUV used in the kidnapping.
The injured accused were taken to the district hospital for medical treatment. According to police records, Rajat has several previous criminal cases registered against him.
A case has been registered at the Magorra police station under relevant legal provisions, and further investigation and legal proceedings are underway.
Earlier on October 9, Mathura police had arrested two individuals following an encounter near the bridge on the Bareilly Highway within the jurisdiction of the Refinery police station.
The arrest took place late on the night of October 9 as authorities were conducting vehicle checks based on credible intelligence regarding suspects in a chain-snatching case.