Hubballi: Police Open Fire on Notorious Robbery Gang, Two Arrested 

Hubballi: The police opened fire on two members of a notorious robbery gang in the city’s outskirts after they attempted to attack officers and escape. The accused, identified as Nilesh and Dileep from Gujarat, were shot in the legs and later arrested by the Bendigeri Police team led by Inspector S.R. Naik. 

The gang had been targeting unsuspecting individuals late at night. On Monday, they intercepted a resident of Kundagol, assaulted him, and fled with his bike, cash, and mobile phone. Shortly after, another victim, Ravichandra, was also robbed. The gang then attempted a burglary at the house of Sharukh on Mantur Road, vandalizing the property. 

Upon receiving alerts, Inspector Naik’s team launched a city-wide search operation. During vehicle inspections near Bidanal, PSI Ashok and two other officers attempted to stop a group of suspicious individuals. However, the suspects attacked the police and tried to escape, forcing officers to fire rounds in self-defense. The two accused sustained gunshot wounds to their legs and were arrested, while three others managed to flee. 

The injured suspects were shifted to KIMS Hospital for treatment, while PSI Ashok and two officers, Sharanu and another constable, were also injured in the encounter. 

Following the incident, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar visited KIMS Hospital, where he reviewed the condition of the injured officers and suspects. Speaking to the media, he confirmed that the accused had a history of multiple robberies across Karnataka. 

“These criminals frequently traveled from Gujarat to commit robberies and escape. They have over 15 cases registered against them, including the theft of a Jain Mandir donation box, which was captured on CCTV. They were also involved in shop burglaries in Navanagar and other districts, including Gadag, Ballari, and Chitradurga,” the Commissioner stated. 

With three gang members still on the run, police have launched a massive search operation. Authorities had already set up 17 checkpoints across the twin cities in response to rising robbery cases. The incident underscores the growing efforts of the Hubballi-Dharwad Police to curb crime in the region.