Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Three dacoits on the run killed

By Our Special Correspondent

SHANKARPALLY OCT. 15. The three dacoits who escaped from police custody in Siddipet town of Medak district on Sunday night were shot dead by a police team after they made an attempt to rob another petrol bunk on the outskirts of this village in the early hours of Tuesday.

The trio along with some other associates were alleged to have attacked the Sharada filling station, around 2 a.m. and the bunk assistants who were sleeping in the office room called up the police. A patrol team reached the spot even as the dacoity was in progress.

"On seeing the headlights of the approaching police vehicle, the dacoits ran into the open fields. We pursued them for some distance. The three dacoits stopped and hurled a bomb at us. At this juncture we opened fire,'' the Shankarpally Sub-Inspector, Bheem Reddy, said.

About 30 minutes before the dacoits struck, a police patrol team stopped at the bunk and asked the five bunk assistants to be alert since petrol bunks were being looted. The assistants who were in the office hall noticed a vehicle stopping and four or five persons jumping out of it.

"I could see three of them rushing towards the office. They hurled stones, breaking glasspanes. We panicked and we rang up the police station and informed them about the attack. They were trying to break open the main door by hurling stones and then we saw another vehicle approaching the bunk. The dacoits ran away and some time later we heard the shots,'' Sekhar, one of the bunk assistants, said.

Police said the dacoits ran into the fields, but the SI, Bheem Reddy, and the constables Ramchandar, Srinivas and Chinnaih, chased the gang and opened fire with .303 rifles and a pistol. In all, 15 rounds were fired.

The DGP, Pervaram Ramulu, who rushed to the spot, congratulated the bunk assistant, Mr. Sekhar, for having the presence of mind to ring up the police even as the dacoity was in progress.

He gave a cash reward of Rs. 1,000 to Mr. Sekhar and some Rs 30,000 cash rewards for the patrol team.

The Rangareddy SP, M.V. Ramachandra Raju, said the three dacoits were believed to have been responsible for a robbery near Siddipet town after their escape from police custody.

Patrolling was being further intensified since other members of the gang were still at large.

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