3 wanted criminals in encounter: 5 arrested, 3 pistols and bikes seized
November 23, 2025, Rourkela, Three wanted criminals were encountered near Lathikata Kucheita in the early hours of Sunday. The police opened fire while they were trying to escape after tricking the Rourkela Special Police.
The three seriously injured have been admitted to the Rourkela Government Hospital. The police have arrested five others at the spot.
These criminals were absconding after committing dacoities in Koida and other areas. Recently, they entered the Lahunipada Barsuwan Transport Office and another transport in Koida and robbed the employees of lakhs of rupees at gunpoint and beat them up. Similarly, it has been found that they were involved in the robbery incident of a Bhasayi family in Bonai.
About two weeks ago, 8 to 10 masked youths entered the BNR Transport office near Barsuwan Siding under the Lahunipada police station with deadly weapons in their hands.
They threatened the employees by putting a gun to their heads and looting them. They took 3 lakh 59 thousand and fled. On the night of the 19th, in a similar manner, the robbers looted the Ma’ Tarini Transport in Koida Bazaar.
They showed guns and looted 3.5 lakh rupees. At Koida Rengalbeda, they robbed two vehicle owners of 2 lakh each, a total of 4 lakhs, and beat them up. They were looting recklessly without caring about the police.
The criminals were targeting one transport office after another in the mining area. Both the owners and employees were in fear as such incidents were repeated repeatedly.
The infamous Chande (Chanda Nayak) gang, the main accused involved in the Barsuwan robbery in Banko and two incidents in Koida, has been arrested.
After an exchange of fire with the police at Lahunipada and Chandiposh PS, three members of the gang were injured while escaping.
Three guns, bullets, a Scorpio vehicle and cash have been seized from the scene. There are many cases against this gang in both Odisha and Jharkhand
