Special Task Force inspector shot dead

GHAZIABAD, Nov 5: Police Inspector Pitam Singh, who killed more than a dozen dreaded western UP gangsters in shootouts, was shot dead by unidentified men at his residence in Kavi Nagar at 7.10 a.m. He was entering his house after a morning walk with his four-year-old son when the assailants pumped nine bullets into him with an AK-47 and a 9 mm pistol.

Police swung into action barely 10 minutes after the incident but the culprits had fled.Pitam Singh’s Kavi Nagar house is situated opposite the district courts. His son, Parakh, was a few steps ahead of his father and was climbing the stairs of their first-floor house. Before Singh could reach the stairs, a white Maruti car coming from the direction of the Ingraham Institute screeched to a halt outside the gate. Two men with weapons in hand jumped out of the car while the driver kept the car running.

Singh made an attempt to reach the stairs but in vain. The assailants opened fire, saw the inspector fall and fled. Singh was taken to Yashoda Hospital butsuccumbed to his injuries on the way. Senior district police officials suspect the involvement of an organised western UP gang. Singh was known for killing more than a dozen of western UP gangsters in encounters. Hunt is on to nab the assailants.