Dharwad police, RPF nab four dacoits

 Disclosing this at a press conference, Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shivakumar said, a gang of six dacoits entered the general compartment of Yeshwanthpur-Vasco Express train near Alnavar and assaulted passengers with lethal weapons before looting cash, jewellery and other valuables.

The RPF personnel heard the hue and cry of passengers when the train entered Londa Railway Station. They also saw some persons hurriedly getting down from the train before it stopped.

Sensing some problem, the RPF police sounded alert and chased the dacoits, who entered in to an abandoned building adjacent to the station.

Successful

The RPF police succeeded in nabbing two dacoits, while the remaining four escaped into the dark. Interestingly, the escaped dacoits boarded a goods train moving towards Dharwad. The RPF informed the Dharwad Town Police of the dacoits possible entry into Dharwad.

Sounding alert, the Dharwad police along with the RPF laid a trap at the Dharwad railway station to nab the four dacoits.

On seeing the police force near the railway station, the dacoits pelted stones at the police and tried to escape by wielding lethal weapons.

Firing

The police team, headed by CPI T S Sulfi, had to open five rounds of fire. Two dacoits, who received three bullets in their leg, fell unconscious on the spot, while the remaining two escaped, said Shivakumar.

The injured dacoits have been identified as Nagaraj Babu (18) a resident of Ramnagar in Hubli and another Santosh Basayya Pujar (19), a resident of Pudakalkatti in Dharwad. Police have recovered Rs 2,000 cash, three cell phones and lethal weapons from them. Those who were arrested in Londa have been identified as Ashok Gangaram Chauhan of Bagalkot and Mohammad Mehboobsa Kundgol, a resident of settlement area in Hubli.

Search continues

The Police Commissioner said that the search was on for the absconding dacoits, Manju alias Scientist Manjya and Nasir Yadwad, both residents of Dharwad who were carrying the valuables.