Bareilly: Family members of two criminals, Kapil Singh and Ashok Kumar who were gunned down by police during an encounter in January, have refused to record their statement before the city magistrate here till they are provided police protection while travelling from Sambhal to Bareilly. Both deceased were residents of Sambhal district.Terming the encounter fake, family members of the slain criminals had alleged that police had picked them up from their houses, taken them to a secluded spot and killed them. After the encounter, Bareilly district magistrate VK Singh had set up a magisterial inquiry under the city magistrate Ashok Kumar Shukla.The relatives were asked to record their statement before the city magistrate on Thursday but they did not arrive.City magistrate Shukla said, “We have recorded statements of police officials and other witnesses. Families of both slain criminals were given time on Thursday to record their statements but they did not arrive. They informed over the phone that they had been receiving life threats and were followed when they moved out of their houses. Following their request, we have written to SSP Muniraj G to provide security to both families when they arrive on March 1, the next date for hearing.”According to police sources, Kapil Singh and Ashok Kumar were part of a five-member gang allegedly involved in robbing two bags full of cash from three employees of a city-based jeweller in Bareilly around 6 am on January 7, when they were going to the railway station to catch a train to Delhi. One of the shop employees was hit by a bullet in the head during the robbery. Police came to know about the robbery when the injured man was hospitalized by his colleagues.Police set up pickets to nab the gang and were successful in cornering five of them near Ahaladpur village on NH-24 on the same day. The five were on two motorcycles. On seeing the police, they opened fire. Police returned fire and two of them were killed. Both criminals had police records. While Kapil Singh had cases of loot and murder lodged against him, cases of loot were also registered against Ashok Kumar.

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