Rourkela police arrested eight members of an interstate dacoity gang following separate gunfights at Lahunipada and Chandiposh on Sunday. Three suspects, including the Jharkhand-based mastermind Chanda Nayak, sustained bullet injuries during the confrontations.
On November 22, police received credible intelligence about the movement of the gang in the Bonai area of Sundargarh district. Consequently, all police stations and SDPOs were instructed to remain alert, with naka checking conducted at key routes and inter-state borders.
Early Sunday, the gang, travelling in a Scorpio and two motorcycles toward Koida, tried to flee upon spotting a police naka. A gunfight ensued near the Limsa area under Lahunipada Police Station. One suspect, Paras Ram, was injured, while others escaped toward Chandiposh.
Another confrontation near Kucheita village involved Chanda Nayak alias Chande and Rajesh Singh, who were shot in their legs during a gunfight with Chandiposh and Gurundia Police. The injured were treated at Rourkela Government Hospital. Police later arrested five additional gang members.
Authorities recovered one Scorpio vehicle, two motorcycles, two country-made pistols, a revolver, eight live rounds of ammunition, and Rs 76,150 cash from the suspects.
The gang is linked to multiple robbery cases in Barsuan, Banko, and Koida Police Station areas and has cases registered across Odisha and neighboring states.
