Saturday, May 14 2005 16:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Seven members of a gang, including its leader, were killed in an encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) of police at Marwa village in Bihar's Naugachia district today (May 14, 2005), Director General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha said.

Acting on a tip-off, STF personnel arrived at the village and encircled the house of one Ghoran Rai, wanted in over 20 cases of murder, kidnapping, dacoity and extortion, Sinha said.

When the STF team asked Rai and his men to surrender, the personnel were fired upon prompting them to return the fire.

In the ensuing gun-battle, which lasted for more than four hours, seven persons, including Rai, were killed,

Sinha said that the gang led by Rai, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head, had become a terror in Purnia, Saharsa, Naugachia, Khagaria and Bhagalpur districts.

The DGP said that two self-loading rifles, three regular rifles, one country-made pistol, one hand grenade and huge quantity of ammunition of different calibre were seized from Rai's house.

A man identified as Babloo Chaudhary, who was trying to hurl a grenade on the STF team, has been arrested, he said.