Notorious criminal shot at in Gadag

GADAG: The police shot at a notorious criminal wanted in many cases of extortion when he attacked a policeman and tried to escape when they had gone for a spot inspection on the Kanaginahala-Lakkundi road on Thursday morning. The accused is Sanjay Basappa Koppad (26) who has at least 13 cases registered against him in Gadag, Hubballi, Koppal, Bagalkot and Ballari.

Posing as a policeman, Sanjay would target couples in lonely places, shoot their videos and threaten them of sharing the videos with their families and on social media. He would then take away their mobile phones, cash, gold and silver articles. He has 13 cases registered against him in different districts.

On Thursday morning, when the police had taken him for spot inspection to the Kanaginahala-Lakkundi road, Sanjay Koppad attacked policeman Prakash Ganagera and attempted to flee. He was then shot in the leg by the police team.

Both the injured criminal and the police personnel have been admitted to GIMS Hospital. Additional SP M B Sunkad and Deputy SP Prabhugouda Kidaralli visited them in hospital. A case has been registered at the Gadag Rural police station.