Police encounter in Rourkela: 3 members of 'most wanted’ armed robbery gang injured, 5 arrested

Three members of an armed robbery gang operating in Sundargarh district were injured in a pre-dawn police encounter near Lathikata of Rourkela on Sunday, while five others were arrested following a chase involving a special team of the Rourkela police.

All three injured were shifted to the Rourkela Government Hospital with gunshot wounds to their legs, reported sources.

According to reports, the group had been under surveillance for its suspected involvement in a series of armed robberies across Koida and surrounding mining belts. The gang was allegedly linked to at least four major heists targeting mining personnel, transporters, and cargo operators.

Gang Tried to Escape During Joint Operation

Sources stated that the police team attempted to intercept the suspects around 5 am after tracking their movement in the Lathikata area.

As the operation was initiated, members of the gang reportedly tried to flee and opened fire in an attempt to evade arrest. The special team retaliated with what police described as 'controlled firing,' leading to bullet injuries to three of the accused. The remaining five were taken into custody after resistance. Those injured were taken to the Rourkela Government Hospital for treatment.

Police reported that parts of the pursuit unfolded simultaneously across different localities, as members of the gang attempted to escape using separate routes. Multiple weapons were seized from those detained, police said, though details of the confiscated arms are yet to be fully revealed.

ALSO READ: Dense fog engulfs Rourkela, disrupting early morning travel due to poor visibility

Probe Extended to Possible Maoist Links

Authorities are now examining whether the group had any links to extremist networks because of its operations near mining corridors close to the Odisha-Jharkhand border.

Sources also stated that the gang’s activities and patterns of movement resembled those of extremist-backed criminal networks, but added that no conclusive evidence has been established yet.

Police have initiated further interrogation of the five arrested suspects to track potential collaborators, arms sources, and the routes used for stealing and distributing looted goods.