UP dacoits: Use of grenades comes to the fore

Lucknow, July 23 (UNI) The killing of forest brigand Shiv Kumar alias Dadua and an attack on policemen in less than 24 hours in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh have brought to the fore use of firepower by dacoits.

While in yesterday morning's encounter with Dadua in the forests of Chitrakoot, the personnel of the Special Task Force (STF) saw a lavish use of hand grenades, another dreaded dacoit Ambika Patel alias Thokia used the same weapon to kill six police personnel late last night.

State Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh said, perched on a high ground Dadua and his men hurled grenades at the STF team.

The STF team retaliated with automatic fire and grenades, eliminating him and five others.

Another STF team, returing after killing a dacoit of the Thokia gang faced the brunt of grenades when they came under ambush late last night. Six STF men and a police informer were killed in the daring ambush. Besides using hand grenades, the Thokia gang used automatic fire to pin down the STF team.

The two incidents have brought to the fore the use of grenades by brigands. ''It is a case of leakage of firepower meant for police personnel...weapons and munitions meant for police land up with outlaws,'' said a senior police official here.

Armouries in police lines are considered to be the main sources of bullets for outlaws. Recently, several cops posted at various police lines were rounded up for supplying bullets to outlaws and naxalites.

''The same applies to grenades...a good throw can easily kill several police personnel,'' another high ranking official said here.

The effectiveness of such a weapon often makes it a costly purchase for criminals. A hefty amount is paid for the purchase of such items. ''UP is not the only source. Grenades and automatic weapons reach dacoits from other states too,'' added the official.

The brigands are also known to use automatic weapons, including AK series rifles. Assault rifles, carbines and self loading rifles (SLRs) are often looted from police personnel following ambushes.

Naxalites in several states even attack police posts and police stations to loot firearms and other accessories.

UNI