4 members of notorious dacoit gang arrested in Bengaluru

The police today arrested four members of a gang of dacoits, hailing from Madhya Pradesh and notorious for burgling several homes in at least four states, after a pre-dawn firefight at their hideout in Bengaluru.

The gang members had attacked two constables on patrol duty in the city and decamped with their .303 bore assault rifle a fortnight ago, the police said.

During the raid today, the dacoits fired from the rifle and threw stones on the police team to resist arrest.

Three gang members - Azam Bhai Singh Moher, Jiten Ram Singh Palashe, Suresh Kodriya Moher - suffered bullet injuries during the raid and have been admitted to Victoria Hospital.

Another member was identified as Abu Bhai Singh Moher.

Three policemen were also injured during the firefight.

The police said that they had formed a team to bust the gang after the constables were attacked two weeks ago.

The team found that Rai Singh Mahel, a resident of Bhagoli village in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, was among those who had attacked the constables and robbed the rifle.

Mahel was arrested and brought to Bengaluru yesterday.

During interrogation, Mahel told the police that his accomplices were hiding near Yelahanka New Town.

A police team stormed their hideout in Kempanahalli area and arrested them.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar said the gang from Madhya Pradesh had burgled many homes in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of the country.

In Karnataka, they had targeted residences in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Udupi, Tumakuru and Bengaluru.

The police seized 100 grams of gold jewellery from their possession. A special team has been formed to arrest the other gang members, Kumar added.