A resident of Krishnapur in Gazole of Malda had masterminded the robbery that was carried out in an agricultural cooperative bank of the same area on Wednesday, senior police officers said on Thursday.

Pradeep Kumar Yadav, the superintendent of police of Malda, said after the robbery was carried out in Krishnapur, the gang of eight who were carrying firearms and bombs, fled the spot in an SUV and tried to escape to the neighbouring South Dinajpur district.

“Barriers were set up by the police at different locations along NH512. The gang took the way to Raniganj in Gazole and started moving along the rural roads. In the Mission More area, they opened fire at members of the crime monitoring group (CMG) of police. The police had to retreat and the gang fled,” said Yadav.

He said that on the way, the SUV got stuck behind an earthmover that was parked on a rural road. The gang members got out of the vehicle and left the spot. By that time, a police team reached the area.

“Seeing our men, they fired again, prompting the team to retaliate. Two of them got injured and we nabbed them with two others. The other four, however, managed to escape,” the police officer added.

Among those who have been nabbed, include Samir Mandal, a Krishnapur resident who had masterminded the crime. He had encouraged Moidul Islam, Mohammad Wasti, and Jahirul Islam, who are from different areas of Chanchal, to join him. “He got four others and we are in search of them. They had plans to share the looted money,” said a police officer.

The police, sources said, recovered two seven mm pistols and three crude bombs from the arrested quartet. on Thursday, the bombs were diffused.

“Our officers are working on certain information. We hope to nab the other gang members soon,” the officer added.