In a major crackdown on antisocial elements, the city police on Saturday arrested at least 11 criminals who were involved in a firing incident at Nandi Sahi earlier this month.
Police were able to arrest all the criminals only after injuring and arresting the mastermind of the Nandi Sahi robbery incident in an exchange of fire, said City DCP Akhileswar Singh.
Singh said Anil Kumar Behera alias Chiku of the city, who spearheaded the Nandi Sahi incident, had gone underground after the August 2 robbery.
While police were looking for Chiku, sources informed the Purighat police that he was loitering near a temple at an isolated place. Soon, local Police Inspector Rashmi Ranjan Sahu along with members of the Special Squad rushed to the spot.
“Seeing the police, Chiku started running from the spot, but the police party chased him. Chiku suddenly pulled out a pistol from his waist and fired at the Police Inspector. luckily, the bullet passed over his head; and exercising his right of self-defence, the IIC fired at the miscreant, injuring him on his left thigh, the city DCP said. Interrogating him, police were able to reach out to at least 11 of his accomplices.
Police are also looking for two more accused, who are still underground after the August 2 robbery. The miscreants had decamped with a scooter of a businessman in which he had kept more than Rs 7.5 lakh.