In Chennai, a magistrate of a city court began probe into the police encounter yesterday in which 5 persons, allegedly involved in two bank robberies in the city, were killed. The magistrate, Geetha Rani visited the spot where the encounter had taken place and spent over three hours making enquiries. The city police commissioner Mr J.K.Tripathy ,said the police had to fire in self defence, after the gang fired at the police team, which had gone to conduct a raid, following a tip off. The commissioner said 5 pistols and 2 revolvers were seized from the spot.