Gurgaon, May 5
A dreaded criminal of the area was shot on the court premises here today. Two assailants trying to flee were shot when they opened fire at police personnel.

According to an eyewitness, four persons opened fire on Hari Dutt of Khandsa village, an accused in 18 cases of heinous crime, including murder and dacoity. He was brought from the Bhondsi jail for appearance regarding his bail application and was manacled when the incident took place.

District police chief Hanif Qureshi said three persons were involved in the shootout.

The undertrial was sitting on a bench in front of court 4 when two persons fired several rounds at him.

He jumped in a bid to save himself, but two other assailants waiting for him shot at him from close range.

He received 10 bullet injuries and died on the spot.

The assailants tried to escape, but police personnel chased Ravinder, alias Ravi, who entered a toilet and fired at police personnel.

The policemen returned the fire and he died on the spot.

According to the police, Ravi of Mandhawali village in Faridabad district had been sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case.

All police stations in the district were put on an alert.

The police received a message that another assailant fled towards National Highway 8 and then took the Sohna-Bhondsi road.

With policemen following him, he took a ‘kutcha’ road near Badshahpur village towards the farmhouse of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

He was fleeing on a motor cycle without number plate, which he abandoned and tried to escape in a jungle. He opened fire at policemen and died in the encounter. He was later identified as Anil of Lakpat Colony, Mithepur village.

Two accused not related to the Hari Dutt case were caught in the crossfire in the shootout and received minor injuries.

According to eyewitnesses, the police, lawyers and members of the public nabbed one other assailant, but the police chief denied it.