New Delhi: Three days after an American was assaulted and robbed during a late-night walk through a park in south Delhi, police shot at and arrested the two suspects in Amar Colony on Sunday. The accused — Jatin alias Mogli and Akshay, both 20 — were intercepted by a police team from the southeast district inside the DDA Astha Kunj Park, days after they allegedly attacked and robbed the American walking through the area.On June 26, the robbery was reported from the Nehru Place-Astha Kunj Park stretch. “The victim, a 28-year-old US citizen who had arrived in Delhi on June 20 and was staying at a hotel in East of Kailash, was walking through the park with a friend around midnight when the two men assaulted him with a sharp weapon and stole his mobile phone. He suffered injuries to both hands and was later admitted to a hospital for surgery,” a senior police officer said.A case was registered at Amar Colony police station, and a police team began surveillance in and around Garhi, Kalkaji, and Nehru Place. “On the basis of CCTV footage and local informers, we received specific inputs about the suspects’ movement early Sunday morning. A trap was laid at the park’s exit near the Iskcon temple,” an officer said.According to police, the duo opened fire when they were asked to surrender. “The officers retaliated, aiming for the legs to disable the suspects. Both the men suffered bullet injuries to their right legs and were taken to a hospital for treatment,” additional DCP (south east) Aishwarya Sharma said.During questioning, Jatin allegedly told police that both he and Akshay dropped out of school in Class 5 and since then had taken to petty crime and substance abuse. Jatin had two cases of assault involving sharp weapons, while Akshay did not have any prior record.The two allegedly confessed to targeting isolated areas like parks and empty roads. On the night of June 25, they were looking for such a spot when they came across the foreign national.Police said they found one sophisticated pistol with two live rounds, a country-made pistol with one live round, three empty bullet shells, and the mobile phone used in the crime.
