Gadarias escape police dragnet again

Gwalior, May 19 (UNI) An encounter took place between the Madhya Pradesh Police and the Dayaram-Rambabu Gadaria gang today in Ghatigaon forests, but the dacoits managed to escape.

''After abducted bus passengers were freed recently, we constantly received information that the bandits were hiding in the vicinity of Ghatigaon and Mohna,'' said Inspector-General (Gwalior-Chambal Range) Sanjay Rana.

A five-jawan unit left for Simria along with eight Special Task Force jawans today for a search operation and were to converge on Jakha, Simria and Aaraun.

The jawans on reaching the spot noticed five khaki-clad persons, who opened fire when police members tried to approach them.

''Two personnel descended and approached the group but the latter started firing. The police also retaliated. The dacoits later hid in the jungles. Cartridges and .303 rifles seized from the site made it clear that the dacoits were the Gadarias,'' Mr Rana added.

Police personnel from Gwalior, Shivpuri, Sheopur and Morena were requisitioned and about 600 personnel were deployed around the encounter site.

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