4 UP dacoits killed in encounter

Bhind(MP), Mar 29 (UNI) Four members of a dacoit gang hailing from Uttar Pradesh were killed in an encounter with the Madhya Pradesh police in the ravines and a trader released from their captivity in Bhind district early this morning.

''The deceased dacoits were identified as Rambabu, Sonu, Girjesh and Mohan. The encounter took place in the forested ravine on the bank of the Chambal river under Ater police station area,'' Superintendent of Police Niranjan Baingankar said.

The 16-member Guddan Kachhi gang, which was mainly operating in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, struck for the first time in Madhya Pradesh when it abducted a potato trader from Bhind, Keshav Jain, on March 3.

On a tip-off that Keshav's relatives were going near a temple to pay ransom to the dacoits for his release, police in plainclothes reached the place and encountered the gang immediately after Rs 8.5 lakh ransom was paid and Keshav was released.

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