7 Salim Gujjar gang members killed by police

Seven members of the notorious Salim Gujjar gang, including two women, were killed in an encounter with the police in Chambal ravines this a...

Seven members of the notorious Salim Gujjar gang, including two women, were killed in an encounter with the police in Chambal ravines this afternoon, official sources said. A special police team, following a tip-off, raided the hide-out of dacoits in Bihar village in Bithauli police station area and a gunbattle ensued in which the seven gang members were killed, the sources said.

However, Gujjar, who is wanted by the police of UP, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and carries a reward of Rs 1.25 lakh on his head, managed to escape.

Speaking over the phone from Etawah, SSP Daljeet Singh Choudhary said: ‘‘Salim Gujjar gang had been spreading terror in the ravines for almost 15 years now. Kidnapping has become a cottage industry here, thanks to Gujjar. But with today’s strike, the gang has been completely nuetralised. We have killed both his brothers Raja Singh and Veer Singh as well as his right-hand man Veer Mallah.’’

Story continues below this ad

‘‘The gang also had three woman dacoits — Sapna, Aarti and Uma — for almost five years. Firing from their semi-automatic rifles, they fought hard but were killed,’’ said the SSP.

Those killed also include the gang’s ace-shooter and ex-armyman, Amar Singh. ‘‘Singh was using his army experience to help the gang. He was the one who held fort for the gang the longest helping Salim Gujjar escape. We killed Singh after a long fight,’’ said SSP Choudhary.

Choudhary informed that three semi-automatic rifles, a.315 bore rifle, a couple of Webley pistols and single barrel guns plus over 500 rounds of ammunition were seized from the gang.

Salim Gujjar and Nirbhay Gujjar are the two major dacoit gangs left active in the Chambal ravines after the fierce campaign launched by the Uttar Pradesh police in past few years. Even these have been considerably weakened: Police figures say 20 of their dacoits have been killed.

Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes near east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka region

World3 hr ago

A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Russia's Kamchatka region on Saturday, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km and was felt on the east coast.

View all shorts

Live Blog