SI Manoj Kumar
SI Manoj Kumar of UP PoliceANI

Sambhal sub-inspector Manoj Kumar, who became a social media sensation after "shooting" with his mouth, has sustained injuries while fighting a dreaded criminal in Uttar Pradesh's Alianekpur village. This is the same cop who had amused many while he was in pursuit of two armed men in Sambhal district, and finding his pistol jammed, made a 'thain-thain' sound in order to frighten the criminals.

Almost three months after that incident, SI Manoj Kumar has sustained bullet injuries in an encounter. The Times of India reported that UP police got a major breakthrough on Friday as they arrested an infamous criminal, Saddam, after a gunbattle in Alianekpur. Saddam was on the list of wanted criminals in the area for 15 cases of loot, theft and attempt to murder.

Along with his partner, Akram, he was en route to Asmoli when a police party made contact with the duo and signalled them to stop. The policemen were fired upon by the criminals and in retaliatory firing Saddam sustained bullet injury in his leg while Akram managed to escape having disappeared in sugarcane fields.

"We had the information regarding two criminals coming on a motorbike. Acting on a tip-off, our team took position near Alianekpur tri-junction. When the cops saw the two men coming on a motorbike, they signalled to stop them, but instead of slowing down their vehicle, the miscreants opened fire on the police party leaving one sub-inspector Manoj Kumar injured." Yamuna Prasad, Superintendent of police. Kumar sustained injuries when a bullet ricocheted on to his hands.

He went on to add: "Our officials, in self-defence, fired on them resulting in a bullet hitting the leg of one of them. The accused has been identified as Saddam of Amroha who was wanted in as many as 15 cases, including robbery, theft and attempt to murder. The other accused disappeared in sugarcane fields."

The combing operation was underway in the sugarcane fields to nab the other criminal. After the encounter, UP police recovered two country-made pistols, cartridges and a stolen motorbike from Saddam.