Bhubaneswar: Two wanted criminals were injured in an encounter with police on the outskirts of the city early on Saturday.
The encounter at Bhuinchua near Balianta came amid intensified police patrolling and drives in the wake of a series of loot cases in the state capital, including four incidents on July 30.
Police said they received a tip-off that some criminals were planning a robbery at Bhuinchua. Following this, a special police team raided the area. Two criminals on a bike there fired at the policemen, who retaliated likewise. The two criminals fell off the bike after being shot on the legs.
Police identified the two criminals as Poda alias Arun Kumar Mallick and Bibekananda Nayak. They have more than 10 criminal cases of dacoity, snatching and attempt to murder registered against them at several police stations in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Jajpur.
Police said two country-made revolvers and a bike were seized from their possession after the encounter. The two were taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
According to police, Poda and Bibekananda are members of a gang that is involved in a series of loots and dacoity in Bhubaneswar. Efforts are on to nab the other gang members, police said.
