Armed dacoits loot Agra residents, kill policeman

Agra, October 15: Armed bandits targetted half a dozen houses in Kahrai village close to Taj Ganj in the wee hours of Thursday and snatched gold ornaments from the women. A retired Provincial Armed Constabulary constable was beaten to death when he resisted the bandits, police said.

Police said the dacoits snatched gold ear-rings from women, leaving them bleeding. More than a dozen women were injured, police said.

Police said the dacoits came armed late Wednesday night and carried on their operation till the early hours Thursday, targeting Meera Vihar colony between Karhai and Ukhara villages, under the Taj Ganj police station.

The dead cop was identified as Hasan Ali, who had retired from the PAC.

The dacoits have been identified as members of the notorious Kachcha-Banian gang which usually gets active in winter months.

When the police reached the affected colony, the gang members had escaped with the booty worth several lakhs. The victims told the police that there were 15 to 20 bandits armed with sticks and iron rods.

–Agencies