After Odisha Gangster Hyder, Who’s Next In ‘Police Hit List’?

Bhubaneswar: After Sheikh Hyder’s death, are police planning similar encounters to eliminate dreaded criminals in Odisha?

According to the police version, the Kendrapada gangster was shot while he was trying to escape after snatching the gun from a policeman in Balasore on Saturday. However, doubts over the incident being staged cannot be ruled out.

Besides, police sources revealed that they have taken a zero-tolerance approach towards crime lords. Police have also compiled a list of around 150 dreaded criminals lodged in Odisha jails.

The names in the list include Sushant Dhalasamant (Cuttack), who is now lodged in Balangir Jail, his brother Sushil Dhalasamant (Cuttack) in Balasore Jail, Sheikh Rahul (associate of Sakil of Cuttack) and Rajan Mishra (Sambalpur) in Baripada Circle Jail.

Gangster Sakil, who was lodged in Choudwar Circle Jail and then in Keonjhar District Jail, has been shifted to Berhampur Circle Jail. Besides, gangster Bikram Mallick has been shifted from Jharpada Special Jail to Sambalpur District Jail.

Two other gangsters Raja Acharya and Rajendra Barik are lodged in Jharpada Special Jail while gangster Tito has been shifted from Jharpada Special Jail to Berhampur Circle Jail. However, another dreaded criminal, Anil Chhotray, was released from Jharpada jail after getting conditional bail from a court.

Besides, Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operative Abdul Rehman (Jagatpur in Cuttack), gangster Hyder ‘s eldest son Sheikh Munna (Kendrapada), Prasant Kumar Das alias Tapu of Kandarpur (Cuttack), Sibashis Khuntia alias Gugu of Madhupatna (Cuttack), Gyana Behera and Bhajana are lodged in Choudwar Circle Jail.

Apart from this, police have also listed the names of Raja Sahu, Nihar Ranjan Pradhan, Kedar Palei, Papu Boral and Madhav Khuntia of Puri district.

Criminals Shot Dead

Going by the records of the last 16 years, five history-sheeters including Hyder have died in police encounters in Odisha.

In 2005, wanted criminal Sangram Sahu alias Dipu of Cuttack was killed in an encounter while Raju Saha alias Rajesh of Sambalpur was shot dead in 2014.

Another dreaded criminal Chagala Mallick of Niali area in Cuttack district, who had been absconding since 2006, was killed in a police encounter in Nayagarh district in 2018. The same year, Srikant Rana alias Teru of Bharatpur area in Bhubaneswar was shot dead in Berhampur.