Two notorious robbers from Gujarat arrested after shootout in Hubballi

HUBBALLI: The Bendigeri police arrested two men belonging to a notorious gang of robbers after firing at them near Bidnal in the leg on Tuesday. Three police personnel were also injured in the incident.

The arrested were identified as Dilip and Nilesh. The gang of five were involved in five robbery cases in the last one month and would waylay motorists at night. During questioning, the robbers attacked police personnel and tried to flee, Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said.

Speaking to media persons after checking on the injured police personnel at the KIMS hospital, the police commissioner said the accused were involved in several cases of robbery and theft. “They would come from Gujarat, commit robberies and escape. With the increasing cases of robberies and thefts checkpoints have been set up at 17 locations in the twin cities”.

Further, he said, “Past midnight on Tuesday, the gang snatched a motorcycle, cash and mobile phone from a man hailing from Kundgol and fled. After some time, they extorted valuables from one Ravindra. Later, they were trying to commit theft at the house of one Shariq at Mantur after throwing stones. Alerted by this, police started checking those who were speeding on two-wheelers when the robbers attacked the policemen”.

The police commissioner said three police personnel, including PSI Ashok, were injured in the incident. “The police fired four rounds of which two hit Dilip and Nilesh, both of whom hail from Gujarat. There are several cases against the two — they were involved in the theft of Rs 4 lakh from the Jain temple donation box and it was captured on CCTV camera. They had also committed theft at two shops and about 15 cases are registered against them at Gadag, Ballari, Chitradurga and other districts. The police are on the lookout for the others in the gang”, the commissioner said.