Dacoity bid foiled in Purulia, 5 held

Kolkata: Purulia police foiled a dacoity bid and arrested five dacoits with firearms while the checking was on in Saltora area on Sunday night.

The accused had assembled in Saltora area under Saturi police station in the district to carry out a dacoity at some nearby petrol pump.

The car they came in has also been seized by the police. It didn't have a number plate. Police had specific information that the criminals would assemble in the area to chalk out plans and later carry out a dacoity.

According to a preliminary investigation, police came to know that four persons out of those five arrested are the residents of Jharkhand, while the other one is a local resident.

After interrogating the accused, police came to know that the miscreants used to loot people travelling in vehicles along the road. They used to place objects fitted with nails on the road to puncture the tires. As the drivers stopped their vehicles, the miscreants looted valuables from them.

Police have not disclosed the names of the accused for the sake of investigation. They also suspect that the accused might have been involved in crimes outside the state.

The accused are being remanded to police custody after being produced before a district court.

A senior police officer in the district said the accused have been arrested during a check. Around three fire arms and some other weapons have been seized from their possession.

Police have started a detailed probe in this regard. Police are trying to know the names of others involved iwth the gang.

They have admitted to their crime in the face of police interrogation. According to the police, various criminal cases have been pending against the miscreants at several police stations in the state and outside.