One armed robber dead, 1 arrested after 28-km chase

Kolkata: An armed robber was killed and one arrested after a dramatic 28 kilometre police chase while four other robbers managed to flee the scene.

According to sources, late on Saturday night a group of six robbers went to a village at Manteswar in Burdwan riding a pick-up van. They allegedly burgled three houses in the village and fled. Meanwhile, some villagers informed Manteswar police station about the robbery.

Upon receiving the news, Manteswar police station informed Memari police station that the robbers were headed for the latter. The Memari police station informed Satgachhia outpost under Memari police station about the miscreants. Around 2:30 am, the police personnel saw the vehicle and tried to stop it. But the robbers managed to bypass them and kept moving towards Memari.

After a few kilometres, a patrolling van of the police identified the pick-up van and ordered the driver to stop. But the driver speeded up and overtook the police van. Immediately, police started chasing the robbers. The latter were trapped as the rail gate was closed at Rasulpur. Before the cops could react, the robbers allegedly turned the van and started hurling bombs and bypassed the police vehicle. The chase ensued once again. Near Malancha on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, the robbers again hurled a few bombs. They also allegedly fired several bullets aiming the police van. Police personnel also retaliated and fired back. The driver of the pick-up van increased speed. After almost one hour, the robbers entered Hooghly's Pandua area. Though the area does not fall under Memari police station's jurisdiction, the cops continued the chase. Near Simlagarh, the rail line crossover was closed due to train movement. Seeing the rail gate dropped, the miscreants left the van and tried to flee on foot while hurling bombs. The police also fired at the miscreants and a robber, identified as Shamim, was hit on his left knee. The chase continued and another robber, identified as Guddu, was caught. Four other miscreants managed to give a slip to the police. Shamim was admitted to the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital early on Sunday morning where he succumbed to his injury at around 8:30 am.

According to sources, the doctors suspect loss of blood might be the reason behind his death. But police authorities have not admitted that Shamim was shot by them. Sleuths have recovered two firearms and some live bombs from the seized pick-up van.