Notorious criminal shot dead in encounter

By Our Staff Correspondent

GULBARGA, MAY 12. Chandappa Harijan (34), a dreaded criminal, who led a notorious gang involved in several murders and other crimes in villages in Gulbarga and Bijapur districts and a few parts of Maharashtra, was shot dead by a special team of Gulbarga police in an encounter at Dhothari village near Akkalkot in Solapur district of Maharashtra this morning.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. B. G. Kokatnur, who disclosed the information here today, said a nine-member police team, led by the Aland Circle Inspector of Police, Mr. Shivalli, shot dead Chandappa Harijan after he fired the first shot at the police from his imported revolver.

All the team members were wearing bullet proof jackets and the shot fired at Mr. Shivalli did not injure him.

Mr. Kokatnur said the special team, looking for Chandappa Harijan for the past few days, received a definite clue that he was to visit the house of a woman at Dhothari village, 130 km from Gulbarga. Based on the information, the team, which conducted a mock raid at a different spot earlier, surrounded the house in the morning.

Sensing trouble, the woman, Sharavva, and Bhagappa Harijan, a close associate of Chandappa Harijan, ran out of the house shouting for help. Brushing aside the two, the police team entered the house only to receive a volley of bullets from Chandappa Harijan. Police returned the fire, killing him on the spot. Harijan was shot with a sten gun and other weapons. His body was punctured with seven bullets.

Meanwhile, Bhagappa Harijan, who was outside the house, also fired a few rounds at the police team from his countrymade weapon before escaping in the confusion. The operation, which started around 8.50 a.m., was completed in eight minutes.

The police team seized a countrymade pistol and 35 live rounds from the house where Chandappa Harijan was caught unawares.

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Section  : Regional
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