Angul Police under the leadership of SP Rahul Jain have not only encountered two-armed dacoits hailing from outside state at Handappa Jungle early this morning injuring the two but also solved a sensational dacoity case within 12 hour of its occurrence.It arrested four interstate criminals involved in crimes in several states.
The encounter took place while five robbers hailed from Maharashtra after committing armed dacoity at a jewellery shop Talcher were fleeing from the state on NH55.
The injured dacoits are Sachin Gajge (39) and Prakash Madne(25).The injured were first rushed to Angul District headquarters hospital and then shifted to SCB medical at Cuttack for treatment.
Police also arrested another two namely Rajesh Madne(41) and Deb Pravakar Lokhande(40). The fifth accused is still absconding, SP Rahul Jain said.
Police said On Wednesday night these miscreants posing as sleuths of Income tax department barged into the shop namely Balaji Gold Refineries, Hatatota, Talcher and asked to show up their gold and ornaments which the shop owner did. Then the armed miscreants looted approximately 230 grams of gold, 60 grams of gold ornaments and 700 grams of silver ornaments.
The accused persons also kidnapped an employee at gunpoint and fled from the spot in a white Hyundai Verna car bearing Registration No. OD-32-F-7419, later found to be displaying a fake number plate.On the way at Angul they dropped the employee and fled.Immediately after registration of the case, Five special teams were constituted under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Jain. Who trailed the fleeing criminals.
The vehicle was subsequently noticed on NH-55 proceeding towards Sambalpur. Simultaneously, all police stations in Angul District were alerted and intensive naka checking was conducted at strategic locations. Finding themselves cornered, the accused persons abandoned the vehicle near Chuliapur jungle under Handapa Police Station limits and attempted to escape on foot.
The pursuing police team chased the accused persons into the jungle. During the operation, the accused opened fire at the police personnel. Police team retaliated, injuring two of them in the legs.
As a result, two accused persons, namely Sachin Gajge and Prakash Madne, residents of Maharashtra, sustained bullet injuries on leg. Other two , namely Rajesh Madne and Deba Prabhakar Lokhande, were apprehended during the operation.
Almost the entire robbed gold and silver ornaments were recovered and seized. Police also recovered and seized two country-made firearms along with live ammunition. The Hyundai Verna car used in the commission of the offence was also seized. Efforts are on to nab the fifth accused .SP said.The looted gold valued at Rs50 lakhs were recovered from them.
Investigations revealed that Prakash is the mastermind and he along with his associates executed the crime as he was working in the spop for more than two years.