Ghaziabad, April 20: The Ghaziabad police gunned down a man, namely Mohammad Jaslim accused of raping and murdering his four‑year‑old niece in a daring encounter on late Sunday night in Ghaziabad’s Tila Mod police station area, where two policemen sustained bullet injuries and were hospitalized, while his two accomplices managed to escape; authorities had earlier announced a ₹50,000 reward for his arrest, and from the scene police recovered three pistols, cartridges, and a bike.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police Dhawal Jaiswal said that on April 11, at around 12 noon, in the Tila Mod police station area, the uncle abducted his four-year-old niece from outside her house by luring her with ice cream. The accused took the girl to his room and after raping her, strangled her to death. After the murder, the accused carried the girl’s body on his shoulder and fled the room, hiding it under a car parked near a garbage dump on 80 Feet Road in the Shalimar Garden police station area.
He said that based on a tip-off, the police recovered the body. The post-mortem report confirmed rape and strangulation. Marks of brutality were also found on the girl’s private parts.
He said that based on a complaint from the girl’s family, a case was registered against her maternal uncle, Mohammad Jaslim alias Chhotu, a resident of Sisauli, Muzaffarnagar. Police were continuously searching for the accused. Two days ago, police received information that the accused had been seen at the Delhi Railway Station.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, stated that late Sunday night, information was received that the accused was trying to escape and was hiding in the Tila Mod area. He was about to meet someone near the Banthala Canal. Following this, the Crime Branch, SWAT team, and Tila Mod police station began checking several routes leading to Delhi. Late at night, police spotted three men riding a motorcycle on the Banthala Canal Road. Police signaled the bike to stop. The rider turned the bike around and began running. When police chased them, the riders opened fire. Two SWAT team chief constables, Iqbal and Amit, were injured. Police then returned fire. One rider fell while the other two others abandoned the bike and fled, taking advantage of the darkness.
The DCP crime apprised that the police have arrived at the scene and rushed the injured suspect to the hospital, where he died during treatment. Police said the deceased suspect was identified as Jasim alias Chhotu, who had brutally assaulted and murdered his niece. Both policemen are reported to be out of danger. Police are searching for the two absconding suspects.
According to the police, accused Jasim has been jailed before. He was arrested by Muzaffarnagar police in connection with a murderous assault. It was after this that he left his family and began living in a rented house near his niece’s home. Police found syringes and narcotic drugs near the girl’s body. Initial investigations have revealed that the accused was a drug addict and committed the crime while under the influence. A reward of 50,000 rupees was announced for Jasim’s arrest.