A late-night encounter took place between the police and suspected criminals in Noida’s Sector 63 area on Sunday night, resulting in two accused sustaining bullet injuries and the arrest of two others.

Police recovered illegal firearms, live cartridges, knives, and two motorcycles allegedly used in robbery incidents from the accused.

According to the police, the four suspects were travelling on two motorcycles and were allegedly on their way to commit a crime when a police team conducting vehicle checks near the Sector 62 roundabout signalled them to stop.

DCP Praveen Ranjan Singh says, “In accordance with the directions of the Gautam Buddha Nagar authorities, tonight the Sector 63 police station team was conducting checking operations at the Sector 62 intersection. Four individuals riding on two motorcycles were spotted approaching. When the police attempted to stop them for checking, both motorcycle riders turned back and sped off…”

During the pursuit, the accused crossed the S-Block intersection and entered the green belt area. When police teams tried to intercept them, they reached the Bahalolpur underpass. Realising they were surrounded, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police. The police retaliated in self-defence, during which two of the accused were shot in the legs and were overpowered.

Following the encounter, police launched a combing operation in the area and apprehended the remaining two suspects, identified as Shankar Sharma and Kapil Kashyap. With their arrest, all four accused involved in the incident were taken into custody.

Police seized two country-made pistols, cartridges and two knives from the accused. The two motorcycles allegedly used in criminal activities were also impounded.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused used to offer lifts to unsuspecting people on their motorcycles and subsequently rob them. Police said all four have extensive criminal records, and efforts are underway to gather details of their previous cases and other criminal activities.

DCP Singh said police teams have been carrying out continuous checking drives and action against criminals under directives issued by the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohammad Azam Khan was on Sunday sent to 14 days of judicial custody a day after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a Jauhar University-linked money laundering case.

The order was passed by the Ghaziabad MP-MLA Court, which directed that Khan will remain in judicial custody until November 13.

Speaking to reporters, the SP leaders’ lawyer, Danish Ali, said: “Today, Azam Khan has been remanded to judicial custody. We argued that since this is a 2019 case, the authorities could have taken action through a B-Warrant when he was already in custody. There has also been a violation of Section 19.”

“The ED has sought his custody to further interrogate him,” he added.

The Samajwadi Party leader’s arrest by the ED on Saturday came close to the provisional attachment of land and buildings belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district, valued at Rs 426.46 crore, in connection with the money laundering probe involving the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, Azam Khan, and others.

The fresh trouble for Azam Khan came in the backdrop of a short-lived relief offered to him and his son Abdullah Khan by the Allahabad High Court, which suspended their sentence in the dual PAN card case and also granted them bail on Thursday.

In the money laundering case, the ED attached assets of the University that have a current estimated market value of around Rs 1,170 crore.

The university campus, located at Jauhar Nagar in Rampur’s Singhankhera village, is owned by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which was founded and is controlled by Azam Khan, who also serves as the institution’s honorary Chancellor, said the ED.

The investigation stems from 26 FIRs registered at Azeem Nagar police station in Rampur, alleging that agricultural land belonging to farmers was forcibly acquired for the university.

The ED said enquiries by the district administration also found that nearly 34 acres of enemy property at Singhankhera village had allegedly been occupied for the university despite the cancellation of the land lease. The land has since been recovered by the Custodian of Enemy Property through the district administration.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Director Professor Vivek Lal visited the six-year-old girl undergoing treatment there, following an alleged assault at a school in Panchkula on October 28.

During his visit, Professor Lal interacted with the treating doctors and enquired about the child’s health, medical condition and progress. He expressed deep concern over the unfortunate incident and assured the family that the institute would extend every possible assistance to ensure the child’s recovery.

Taking a special humanitarian initiative, the PGIMER Director ordered that the girl’s entire medical treatment be provided free of cost, with all expenses to be borne by the institute. In addition to covering all medical expenses, PGIMER has also provided her with a private room to ensure comfort, privacy, and appropriate care during her hospital stay.

Professor Lal said that the responsibility of PGIMER goes beyond providing medical treatment and includes standing alongside patients and their families during difficult times.

He emphasised that the institute is committed to ensuring the best possible medical care and all necessary support for the young patient and her family.

The six-year-old girl was brought to PGIMER with critical injuries after an alleged assault by an eight-year-old boy inside her classroom at a school in Panchkula on October 28. She was subsequently referred to the premier medical institute in Chandigarh for specialised treatment.

At present, the child is being treated by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, who are closely monitoring her condition and providing all necessary medical attention.

Following the Director’s visit, the institute has assured the family of continued medical and institutional support throughout the child’s treatment. According to officials, the Director will personally monitor the treatment and other care being given to the child.