3 policemen injured in encounter with dacoits

Three persons, including two policemen, were today injured in an encounter with members of an interstate gang of dacoits in Chitrakut forest, police said here.

Acting on a tip off, a team of Uttar Pradesh police reached Markundi forest area of Chitrakut, where it had a gunfight with Balkhadia gang. Two police constables Pushpendra and Kailash and a driver were injured in the encounter, IG (law and order) A Satish Ganesh said here.

He said that injured were rushed to the hospital where their condition was stated to be stable.

The gang led by the dacoit Sudesh Patel alias Balkhadia is said to be carrying a reward of Rs 6.25 lakh by UP and Madhya Pradesh police on his arrest.