Notorious dacoit Chandan Gadaria killed in police encounter

SHIVPURI (MP): Notorious dacoit Chandan Gadaria was today killed in an encounter by Shivpuri police in Kevin forest area in the district, a senior police official said.

The dacoit was carrying a reward of Rs 30,000 on his head, he said.

"Acting on a tip-off that the dacoit and his gang were camping in Khod Chowki area under Bhounti Police station, few police parties were constituted and dispatched to cordon it off," Shivpuri Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Yusuf Qureshi, who led the police operation, told PTI.

At around 4 AM, police spotted a fire in deep forest area, where the gang was probably cooking food, following which the police challenged them.

Caught unawares, the gang opened fire at the police, and Gadaria was shot dead in the ensuing police retaliation, he said.

However, the other members of the gang managed to escape from the spot in the dark, soon after they found that their leader was killed.

Police recovered three guns and a number of cartridges from the spot, besides articles of daily use.

From Gadaria, the police seized a 12-bore rifle and two other guns, he said.

"The dacoits fired nearly 175 rounds, while the police retaliated with nearly 150 rounds. With this, the police got success in eliminating a major dacoit of the area," he said.

Qureshi said it is quite possible that other members of the gang were also injured in the encounter and police have launched a hunt to nab them.

The gang also has a woman member, Chanda Gadaria, who is said to be the deputy head of the gang and carries a reward of Rs 10,000 on her, he added.