Basirhat, Jan. 27: Police today shot dead a dacoit and foiled an attempt to rob a Bank of India branch at Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas, about 90 km from the city.

A gang of five armed with bombs and revolvers assembled in front of the Rampur branch of the bank around 10.15 am. Acting on a tip-off, policemen in plainclothes preempted the strike.

As soon as a dacoit was identified, two officers and four constables closed in. The raiders hurled six bombs and shot at the police when they found themselves surrounded. An encounter followed. Four policemen suffered splinter injuries. Panic spread as the gunshots rattled residents and frightened customers in the bank.

The dead dacoit was identified as Gaffar Mollah. Subdivisional police officer Sisir Das said a search is on for the other dacoits. “Gaffar was wanted in several cases of dacoity and murder,” he added.