In a shocking incident, a Delhi Police constable was shot while trying to save a couple from being robbed by a group of criminals near Shahbad Dairy in outer Delhi on Friday night.

Police said “the incident took place around 10pm when constable Anand was on patrol duty near the Bawana Industrial Area. He saw a group of men on a motorbike having a scuffle with the couple and tried to intervene. Seeing the policeman, the miscreants were about to flee but he managed to catch two of them. One of the miscreants then pulled out a country-made pistol and fired several rounds at the cop.”

Police officers said that “Anand was shot at a close range. Despite his injuries, he held on to the criminals. They picked up their helmets and bludgeoned the policeman until he collapsed. The miscreants fled the spot as the cop lay in a pool of blood. In the meantime, locals had informed the police control room and Anand was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.”

Officers said that “bullets had pierced his abdomen, damaging his vital organs. The body has been sent to Mahabir Hospital for an autopsy. The constable was posted with a police post at Sector 5 of Bawana Industrial Area.”

“We have registered a case of murder and are trying to identify the criminals," said Vikramjit Singh, DCP outer.

Prima facie investigations suggest that the criminals had also tried to snatch the service weapon from the constable during the scuffle. Cops suspect the role of local criminals.

Constable family members have been informed about the incident and the body will be handed over to them after a state ceremony on Saturday. CCTV footage retrieved from the area is being scanned. The police are also recording the statement of the couple to establish a sequence of events.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI