Police raid gangster’s hideout, four held

Loni Kotwali police on Saturday arrested four members of a dreaded criminal gang after a brief encounter at Nithora village.

Acting on a tip-off, a police party raided the residence of Rajendra Singh in Nithora where gangster Anil Painda was taking shelter, SHO Avdesh Pratap Singh said.

As and when the police party reached there, Anil and his accomplices opened fire and hurled a one hand grenade at the police party but all of them escaped unhurt as the grenade could not burst, he said.

Singh further said that taking advantage of commotion, Painda dodged the police party and fled from the spot.

His four aides were apprehended by the police party.

Upon interrogation, they revealed their identities as Visahant alias Chintoo, Nishant, Mohit and Rajendra, all natives of Nithora.

Police recovered 3 country made pistols of .315 bore, two hand grenades, 7 live and 3 empty cartridges.

All of them have been arrested and booked under appropriate sections of IPC, the officer said.