Angul: In a swift operation, police arrested four criminals involved in a daring gold and silver robbery after a fierce encounter in Handapa area of Odisha’s Angul district.
Two of the accused sustained bullet injuries during the gunbattle after allegedly opening fire on the police team while trying to escape.
Sources said the exchange of fire took place on Wednesday night near Chuliapur forest under the jurisdiction of Handapa Police Station.
Police said the gang had committed a daring robbery at Balaji Gold Refinery at Hatatota in Talcher the previous evening. The armed criminals had looted approximately 230 grams of gold, 60 grams of gold ornaments, and 700 grams of silver ornaments. They also abducted an employee of the jewellery unit at gunpoint before fleeing the spot.
Swiftly acting on intelligence inputs, Talcher Police launched a massive manhunt. The robbers were intercepted in the forest area, leading to a fierce gunbattle with the criminals.
During the encounter, two Maharashtra-based accused Sachin Gajge and Prakash Madane sustained bullet injuries in their legs. Police immediately overpowered and disarmed them before shifting both to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) at Angul for treatment.
Two other gang members — Rajesh Madane and Deva Prabhakar Lokhande — were also arrested on the spot. Police recovered all the looted gold and silver ornaments, two country-made pistols with live ammunition, and the vehicle used by the gang in the crime.
However, another accused managed to escape and is currently absconding. Police have launched a search operation to nab him.
