Dacoits kill police officer in Odisha

A police officer was killed when a gang of dacoits bombed his vehicle and opened fire at him in Odisha's Keonjhar district, police said Sunday.

The incident took place Saturday night near Saharpada village, about 150 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, when Inspector-in-Charge Dilip Sahu and his men were chasing the gang of dacoits.

The dacoits opened fire at them and hurled country made bombs on the police vehicle, sub-divisional police officer Pradipta Nayak said.

Although Sahu managed to come out of the vehicle and opened fire at the gang, he sustained grievous injuries during the shooting. He was rushed to the a hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Sahu had joined the Ghatgaon police station only a few weeks ago.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed grief and announced ex-gratia of Rs.8 lakh to the family of the deceased.

The government also promised a job to the kin of the dead police officer.