Four looters had robbed Sahakali Saving and Credit Cooperative Limited at about 4 p.m. and fled toward Bhaktapur on two motorbikes. They ran into a police picket at Chundevi between Sallaghari and Suryabinayak. No sooner did they have to halt than one of them fired some rounds from his pistol, injuring picket commander Sub-inspector Om Thapa.
According to SP Pushpa Ranjit, Chief of Metropolitan Police Range Bhaktapur, two looters were arrested in the immediate chase while two others escaped. The looters fell off their bikes as they confronted the police. They even seized a shotgun from the police, and it was recovered later after the arrest of the two, who were also found to be holding the looted money and a pistol.
The two arrested have been identified as Ramesh Gurung, 22, of Udayapur and Nirmal Basti, 28, of Parsa. SP Ranjit said an intense search would be carried out to nab the two absconding looters.
"We did it all within five minutes after being informed by the control room," added Ranjit. The looters fled toward Bhaktapur on two Puslar motorbikes with ´On Test´ number plates.
It was all like something out of a movie with police chasing the looters across farmland just off the road. Gurung and Basti were nabbed behind the Army School premises about 1 km from Chundevi. Police also fired some rounds while running them down.
Injured Sub-inspector Thapa was referred to Neuro Hospital Bansbari after preliminary treatment at Bhaktapur Hospital. According to Ranjit, he sustained a deep bullet cut behind the ear, but seems out of danger.
"Thapa did a very brave thing. He kept chasing them even after being shot at," added Ranjit.
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