Rourkela: Three hardened criminals were injured in an encounter with the police in Lathikata area near Rourkela in Odisha’s Sundargarh district early on Sunday.
Sources said the criminal gang tried to escape after misleading a special team of Rourkela police. In an effort to stop them, the police opened fire and three members of the criminal gang sustained injuries during the brief encounter.
While the injured persons were immediately taken to Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) for treatment, five others of the gang were apprehended on the spot. Police also seized three pistols and a motorcycle used by the gang members.
Police said the gang had been involved in several robberies in Koida and nearby areas of the district. They allegedly barged into the offices of two transport companies in Koida recently and threatened employees at gunpoint before fleeing with several lakhs of rupees.
The gang was also suspected to have committed a robbery at Banaigarh, where they tied up a businessman’s family and looted valuables.
Efforts are on to trace and apprehend other absconding members of the gang.
