A fugitive bank dacoit, Babu Naik, was killed in an exchange of fire with the police in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Tuesday.
Naik escaped from police watch on November 25 while undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Five policemen, including a havildar and four constables, were suspended for his escape. Naik was arrested for his involvement in a dacoity at the Buguda branch of Utkal Grameen Bank on May 24, 2017.
He had earlier escaped from the Bhanjanagar sub-jail on September 11 this year. On October 9, he landed in police net when some bombs with him exploded after his bike met with an accident near Bhanjanagar.
“On Tuesday, Naik, along with his accomplice Tapan Jena, was tracked down near Bantha village. Both of them were injured in the exchange of fire with the police. Naik succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to Berhampur for treatment and his aide was arrested in an injured condition,” said Berhampur Additional SP Santanu Dash. Two pistols were seized from them.
Highway robbers held
In another incident, Anant Kumar Machhua of Nayagarh district, the kingpin of a highway robber gang that had escaped with a truck loaded with foreign liquor, was arrested after an exchange of fire in the Khallikote police station area. Nine members of the gang were also arrested and ₹ 17 lakh worth looted liquor was seized.