Four dacoits of UP gunned down

Gwalior, Mar 29: Four members of a dacoit gang hailing from Uttar Pradesh were killed in an encounter with the Madhya Pradesh police in the ravines of Bhind district early on Saturday morning. Police sources said the encounter took place in the forested ravine on the bank of the Chambal River under Ater police station area.

On a tip-off about the presence of the Guddan Kachhi gang, after the relatives of a potato trader from Bhind, Keshav Jain, who was abducted on March 3, paid ransom for his release, police encountered the gang. The 16-member gang, which was mainly operating in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, struck for the first time in Madhya Pradesh by kidnapping the trader, Superintendent of Police Niranjan Baingankar said, adding the trader had been released from captivity.

The deceased dacoits have been identified as Rambabu Diwakar, Sonu Kachhi, Girjesh Chakwa and Mohan Kori. Police recovered one mouser rifle of 306 bore, a rifle of 12 bore, a countrymadep istol of 325 bore, and a motorcycle from near the spot. The Chambal Range IG had recently announced Rs 15,000 reward on the gang. These dacoits were linked with Guddan Kachi gang, which operated on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Later, they formed their own gang and committed crimes in Madhya Pradesh.

According to SP Bhind Niranjan Vyangankar, police were tipped off in them orning that in connection with abduction of a trader Keshav Chandra Jain the bandits were to reach near the bridge in order to receive ransom of Rs 10 lakh. The police were already under pressure in this abduction case, as Bhind MLA Narendra Singh Kushwah had staged dharma at police station. The dacoits were waiting near the Pipa Bridge to get the ransom. As soon as the family members of the abductee handed over cash to the dacoits against businessman, police officials challenged them and subsequently exchange of fire took place. Businessman Keshav Chandra returned home safely.