Post News Network
Dhenkanal, Jan 20: A man displayed exemplary courage and ended up with bullet injuries while trying to overpower a gang of miscreants who came here to loot a public sector bank Wednesday.
Saroj Pradhan (45) of Rameshwarpur sustained critical injuries in his stomach after one of the gang members, in his bid to escape, fired three bullets at him. He was first admitted to district headquarters hospital where a doctor removed one of the bullets lodged in his body before shifting him to a Cuttack hospital. The incident triggered shockwaves in the town.
Locals later overpowered the remaining three of the gang while one managed to escape. They beat them up black and blue before handing over them to police. A pistol, a sharp-edged weapon, motorcycle and an empty shell were seized from the spot.
Accused Ahmed Khan (22) of Kandarpur in Cuttack district, Jeetendra Das alias Jitu of Matagajpur in Cuttack city and Muna were arrested by police. Muna, who suffered injuries during the scuffle with locals, was admitted to district headquarters hospital.
The incident happened when two constables Bipin Bihari Swain and Jayarm Dehuri in plainclothes were patrolling outside the State Bank of India’s (SBI) main branch at Super Market in the town.
They noticed the miscreants coming out of the bank. Suspecting their movement, they informed the Town police station over phone and chased them.
A PCR van soon joined the chase. The four were found engaged in a discussion outside the mini stadium. On noticing the police, one of them fled on a motorcycle while another tried to fire at the policemen and locals.
Meanwhile, Saroj, who was coming from the opposite direction found one of them running away and tried to overpower him. In the scuffle, the miscreant fired three bullets at Saroj leaving him critical. The other two were overpowered by the locals and handed over to police.