Rajkot: One of the 10 accused in the Rs 1.53cr robbery-murder case was shot at by the police when he opened fire at the team during weapon-recovery operation in the city on Friday night.The incident occurred when Anurag Singh Rajput, currently in police custody in connection with a Rs 1.53-crore robbery-and-murder case, allegedly fired two rounds at a Crime Branch team during a discovery panchnama.In retaliatory firing, crime branch police sub-Inspector (PSI) Vanrajsinh Dodiya fired one round, injuring the accused. Rajput was ishifted to a hospital for medical treatment.According to DCP (crime) Jagdish Bangarva, all 10 accused arrested in the robbery-and-murder case were produced before a court on Friday, which remanded them in four-days police custody. Investigators were utilizing the remand period to trace and recover the weapons used in the killing of Lalji Sardhara, an employee of gold-silver ornament firm.While investigators had previously seized one weapon linked to the crime, authorities were unaware that Rajput had concealed an additional firearm. The crime branch team had escorted Rajput near the RK Industrial Area, within the jurisdiction of the Airport police station, to search for the hidden weapon.During the site search, Rajput allegedly accessed the concealed firearm and discharged two rounds directly at the police team, prompting PSI Dodiya to return fire.Airport police are now set to register a fresh case against Rajput on charges of assaulting police personnel, obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duty, and attempt to murder.Sardhara, an employee of Tanvi Export India was carrying refined gold and silver from the company’s refinery to its jewellery manufacturing unit which is barely 50m way when four masked men allegedly attacked him, opened fire and fled with the valuables in a car. Sardhara was rushed to hospital where he died during the treatment.
