Two men were arrested after a brief exchange of fire between them and police in northeast Delhi's Jyoti Nagar in the early hours of Saturday, officials said.

The arrested were identified as Shakti alias Sonu (36) and Sachin (24), they said.

Four rounds were fired including two by police in retaliation, the officials added.?

Police said Shakti is listed as a "Bad Character" at the Mansarovar Park police station and has been named as an accused in 18 criminal cases, while Sachin has four cases pending against him.

According to police, on Friday, two back-to-back armed robberies took place within a short span of time in the wee hours. These incidents were reported from areas in Ashok Nagar and Jyoti Nagar, they said.?

The modus operandi in both the incidents were similar that is two persons came on a motorcycle, robbed people of their cash at gun point and fled, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Sanjay Kumar Sain said that through local intelligence information was received that some people were in the area and used a modus operandi reported in the robbery cases.?? ?

Police said that around 2 am, a team spotted two persons on a motorcycle, which did not have a number plate. The team was on duty on a service street near the Loni roundabout on the Wazirabad road.?

"Seeing the police team, the rider hurriedly made a sharp U-turn in a bid to escape. The motorcycle skidded and the two persons fell on the road. The police team blocked their path. Finding themselves holed-up, the pillion rider fired two shots on the team and one of the bullets hit its vehicle," Sain said.

Shakti, who suffered a bullet injury to his leg, is also wanted in a case registered under Indian Penal Code section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) at the Jyoti Nagar police station, he said.

On October 15, he had attacked Sub-Inspector Subhash, posted at the Jagatpuri police station and a resident of Ashok Nagar, Sain said.

Shakti was admitted to the GTB Hospital, he said, adding that both the accused, during interrogation, confessed to having committed the robberies and their involvement in the other cases registered against them.

They also said that they robbed vegetable vendors, milk suppliers and people who have to start their businesses early in the morning , Sain said.?? ??

He said that the accused after committing robberies, fled through narrow lanes. ?? ??

Police have seized a semi-automatic pistol, a country-made pistol, three bullets and two empty cartridges. The motorcycle has been impounded, the officer said.?
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