Puri, Aug 22: Five dreaded criminals have been arrested following a brief exchange of fire in Puri last night, police said.

Satyabadi police raided at Kadua Chhaka last night getting a tip-off that the group was planning to rob a fuel station in the market.

As the police team approached the gang, the miscreants tried to flee from the spot hurling crude bombs at police.

Later, they started firing at police and in retaliation police opened fire. After a brief exchange of fire, police nabbed them and took into custody. They will be forwarded to court today.

The arrested have been identified as Bishnu Sahoo (27), Sheikh Fakiri (31), Bhagaban Das (22), Shiba Das (24) and Subhatra Gocchayat (38).

There were several cases pending against them at various police stations in the district.