Nagpur: At least two policemen, including an officer, were injured on Wednesday when they fought to disarm armed history-sheeters in a crowd during a rally at Vajpayee Nagar in Kalamna, preventing what police claimed was a murder in the works.Kalamna police said Mohammad Arif alias Bangali, 27, a dreaded criminal with 39 cases against him, was spotted near a tea stall as crowds swelled at Vajpayee Nagar on Wednesday.Arif was spotted carrying a knife tied to his waist and officers moved in to isolate and disarm him. It later came to light that Arif was heading towards Kapil Nagar to commit murder, when officers on rally duty noticed him and his aide.When a police team led by assistant police inspector Ajay Jadhav tried to snatch the weapon, the goon grabbed the cop’s right hand, twisted his finger and fractured the right thumb.When police rounded up the second accused, Timeshwar Shahu, 21, he too resisted and fought with head constable Mahesh Lohi and injured him. The goons rained fists and kicks as cops tried to pin them down. The knife was seized and the duo was arrested.“Our team was injured but they did not relent till reinforcements arrived,” said senior inspector Praveen Kale of Kalamna police station. The two injured cops were given medical attention.Kalamna police registered a case under relevant BNS sections, including deterring public servants from duty and common intention, besides Arms Act and Maharashtra Police Act provisions for obstruction.
