Encounter in Odisha capital: one injured; one held

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Mar 3:

A notorious criminal was injured and another was apprehended by the quick action team (QAT) of Commissionerate police in Odisha capital this evening while two others give a slip to the cops.

Acting on a tip off, the QAT, in coordination with Mancheswar police, laid the trap and chased the four bike-borne criminals who were coming towards Bhubaneswar from Cuttack on the NH-5.  During their chase, the history-sheeters opened one round fire at the police team following which the raiding team retaliated with three rounds of fire, injuring one of the accused.

The incident happened around 800 metres away from the Bhubaneswar-Puri bypass towards Pandera, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

The QAT was led by Inspector Akash Rana and monitored by Twin City commissioner Dr R P Sharma.

The accused Hari Shankar Rout alias Dipu sustained bullet injury on his left ankle and lost balance of the vehicle as a result of which the pillion also fell down from the bike.

Dipu was rushed to Capital Hospital here and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack where his condition is stated to be critical.

While the duo was apprehended, the two others on another bike managed to flee. The other accomplice detained by police has been identified as Prakash Jena.

Several cases of dacoity, murder, kidnapping and loot are pending against Dipu and he was wanted in several police stations.

Police have seized a firearm, two live bullets, two mobile phones and a motorcycle from their possession.

Dipu, a resident of Gopalpur in Cuttack, was involved in loot of a jewellery shop in Rourkela where the gang decamped with around 4 kg gold, police said.

He was arrested in a criminal case and was out on bail few days ago. Police was on the lookout for him in connection with several cases, police added.