Gangster Hyder’s Death: Odisha Police Reveal Final Moments Before Encounter

Balasore: What exactly happened during the police encounter in which gangster Sheikh Hyder was killed near Simulia in Balasore?

Police on Monday revealed the final moments of the dreaded criminal as he was being escorted to Baripada sub-jail. The Cuttack police officer, who led the escort team, clarified the details in an FIR lodged at Simulia police station.

In the FIR, Inspector of Cuttack Urban Police District (UPD) Gangadhar Saseni mentioned that in line with a directive from the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court, Cuttack, he along with a police team arrived at Choudwar Circle Jail at 11.55 am on July 24. The team then took Hyder and left for Baripada at 12.40 pm.

The other members of the escort party were Sub-Inspector Asit Ranjan Jena, Havildar Major Gajendra Nath Soren and seven Havildars Surya Kumar Rout, Soumya Ranjan Rout, Satyajit Swain, Rohit Kumar Mallick, Purusottam Rout, Rajendra Nayak and Kalpataru Nayak

The Inspector said they had handcuffed Hyder because he had earlier escaped from SCB Medical College and Hospital.

“On the way, Hyder asked me to stop the vehicle to attend to nature’s call. Although I asked the driver not to stop the vehicle, Hyder insisted to allow him as he was a diabetic patient. As soon as the police van stopped at a diversion near a Hanuman Temple at Simulia, Hyder requested to unlock his handcuffs to attend to nature’s call. As soon as the escort Havildar unlocked the handcuff, he immediately snatched away the AK-47 from Havildar Surya Kumar Rout and ran to a distance,” Saseni said.

He said the gangster later pointed the rifle at the escort party using abusive language. He told the policemen: “Ek baar faraar hua tha. Tum log mujhe Hyderabad se pakad ke layethe. Is baar fafar hunga toh mujhe pakad nehin paoge. Paas aaoge to mein goli margdung (Once I had escaped and you caught me from Hyderabad. This time, I will escape and you cannot catch me. If you come near me, I will fire).”

The Inspector said the gangster then tried to cock the rifle. At this, Sub-Inspector Asit Ranjan Jena fired at Hyder thrice from his service revolver.

“Had the escort team not fired, the gangster would have killed them,” he stated in the FIR.