Berhampur/Jagatsinghpur: Two dreaded criminals were nabbed following separate police encounters in Aska area of Ganjam and Kujang of Jagatsinghpur district. The arrested criminals are Guruprasad Swain and Rabi Rao.

Acting on a tip-off about the movement of Guruprasad and his associate at Baragaon village in Aska, a team of police swung into action and conducted a raid in the locality in wee hours on Sunday. Seeing the cops, the duo escaped with their bike. When the cops chased after them, the two hurled a bomb at the cops near Pailipada forest.

In retaliation, the cops opened fire at the two. Guruprasad fell off the bike after sustaining bullet injuries in his left leg while his aide managed to escape. During the encounter, two police officials were also injured.

Later, the cops seized a gun and two live bullets from his possession and sent Guruprasad to MKCG College and Hospital. A total of 13 cases, including murder and dacoity are pending against him at various police stations, police said.

In a separate encounter, criminal Bikram Pal alias Don was nabbed at Bamadeipur under Kujang police limits in Jagatsinghpur district today. Don who sustained injuries in the encounter was later admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

More than 40 cases are pending against him at various police stations, said police.