Notorious criminal held after police encounter at Odisha’s Puri town

Bhubaneswar: A notorious criminal was injured in a police encounter at Odisha’s Puri town today.

The injured criminal has been identified as Santosh Barik alias Santu, son of Charan Barik, of Palanka village under Brahmagiri police limits.

Santu’s bike had collided with a cyclist at Chandiput near Brahmagiri on November 29 this year. Following the mishap, Santu went home and brought a gun to assault the cyclist, police said.

The dreaded criminal, however, could not trace the cyclist. He then entered into the house of one Subala Sahoo to enquire about the cyclist, identified as Jalandhar Nayak.

Santu entered into an argument with Subala’s daughter-in-law Jhili Sahoo after she expressed her ignorance about the cyclist. Soon, the notorious criminal hurled abuses at Jhili and opened fire on her before fleeing the spot. The victim sustained bullet injuries on her hand, police added.

Taking the incident seriously, Puri district Superintendent of Police (SP) Kanwar Vishal Singh formed a special team under Puri Sadar SDPO to nab the accused.

The police today came to know about the presence of the dreaded criminal at Girala forest near Puri town in the evening.

Soon, a police team led by Puri Sadar IIC Balhabagrahi Pradhan reached the spot. Upon noticing the police team, Santu opened fire at the cops, who retaliated in a controlled manner, said a statement issue by Puri police today.

Santu was nabbed from the spot after he sustained bullet injuries on his right leg, said the police. He was later admitted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for treatment.

A gun and two bullets were seized from the possession of the injured criminal.

Brahmagiri police SUB-Inspector Narayan Pradhan and Assistant Sub-Inspector Sanjeet Kumar Kanhar sustained minor injuries during the encounter, sources said.

Santu had been booked in several cases by Brahmagiri police in the past.