The Star Online quoted Perak Deputy Police Chief DCP Hasnan Hassan as saying the four men, aged 20 to 30, were high on the police wanted list.
A police patrol car on crime prevention rounds had spotted a grey-coloured Honda Accord being driven in a suspicious manner and tried to flag it down at 10.50pm.
“The car, however, sped off towards the Tambun main road. It rammed into a patrol car, then a street light pole.”
When policemen approached the car, the front passenger in the car opened fire at the police, causing them to retaliate and shoot back.
Checks revealed that all four men had criminal records.
The gang had been actively carrying out robberies in Ipoh and Kampar since August last year.
Police recovered a Remington Colt .45 pistol, a machete, a packet of syabu, a cutter, iron rods and mobile phones in the suspects’ possession.
The Honda used by the gang was also reported stolen on Aug 27.
Police are looking for more of the gang’s members.