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Surrender of dacoits off due to outrageous demands

The proposed surrender of Chambal dacoits at a function in the district headquarters of Bhind today has been cancelled by the Madhya Pradesh police in view of the impractical conditions put forth by the major gangs.

State Director-General of Police Ayodhya Nath Pathak told the media yesterday that the conditions put forth by major gangs included grant of licence for running arms shops and petrol pumps. They also want government jobs for seven members of each dacoit family and life-long security guards for their protection. What is more, the gangs want journalists from all around the world to cover the function.

Pathak said the state government had rejected these impractical conditions put forth by the major gangs like those headed by Ramasrey alias Phakkad Baba, Kusuma Nayeen and Haribaba who had earlier agreed to lay down their arms.

The DGP pointed out that the major gangs also wanted land in Bhind town for construction of temples of Narasimha and Kali, security guards and irrigated land for the upkeep of these shrines.

For themselves, the dacoits demanded land and arrangements for their visitors in jail.

Besides, they also wanted the ''agreement'' regarding these conditions signed by the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary, he said.

The remaining dacoits, numbering about three dozen, would, however, surrender unconditionally at various police stations in Bhind district.

The DGP said the state government rejected these conditions as acceptance of these demands would have meant an insult to law- abiding people.

Meanwhile, the police has braced itself up to launch an intensive anti-dacoit drive in the Chambal region from tomorrow.

Three police companies were deployed in Bhind and Morena districts and seven more would be sent there from other places in the state.

UNI

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