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A day after a mobile phone snatcher attacked police officers at Victoria Ground in Chaderghat, Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy and Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, on Sunday, visited DCP (South-East) S. Chaitanya Kumar and his gunman BSN Murthy at Yashoda Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Both officers sustained injuries during the incident and are reported to be in stable condition. According to the DGP, around 5 p.m. on Saturday, Mr. Chaitanya Kumar and his team were passing through Chaderghat when they noticed a man behaving suspiciously near Victoria Ground. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Mohd. Omar Ansari, a resident of Kamatipura and a known rowdy sheeter with 22 previous cases, was allegedly involved in several mobile snatching and property offences. When the officers attempted to intercept him, Ansari attacked a constable with a knife. In response, Mr. Chaitanya Kumar used his gunman’s 9mm pistol and fired two rounds to stop the assault. Ansari sustained bullet injuries in his hand and stomach. During the scuffle, the DCP suffered a neck injury and his gunman’s leg was injured. Their driver, Sandeep, acted quickly and helped prevent further harm. Ansari was taken to a private hospital where he underwent surgery and is now stable. The DGP Reddy said that the officers chased the accused for nearly 750 metres before he turned on them with knives. “Both DCP Chaitanya Kumar and his gunman showed great courage and presence of mind. They are recovering well and likely to be discharged tomorrow,” he said, adding that two of Ansari’s associates fled the spot and are being traced. Commissioner Sajjanar stated that five special teams have been deployed to trace the absconding accused, including an auto driver who allegedly assisted Ansari. “We have obtained several clues and are verifying his recent movements and associates. Visible policing has been increased across the city to deter similar offenders. Citizens need not worry, as the Hyderabad Police will continue to act firmly against rowdy sheeters and habitual offenders,” he said. Police said the Preventive Detention Act had been invoked against Ansari twice in the past. Preliminary investigation suggests he may have been planning another offence at the time of the incident. The Sultan Bazar police have deployed special teams to locate his absconding associate, while the clues team has been examining the spot to reconstruct the sequence of events. Senior officers including DCP (West) Chintamaneni Srinivas, DCP (South) Sneha Mehra, and other officials were also present at the hospital during the visit.
