Hardcore criminal injured in police encounter

Athagarh: Hardcore criminal Bhabagrahi Panda was seriously injured in a police encounter at Haridaposhi forest under Tigiria police limits at Athagarh in Cuttack district late on Monday.
He was admitted to Athagarh hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack when his condition deteriorated.
A police team conducted a raid following information about his presence in the forest. In an attempt to flee the spot, he opened fire on the personnel. The cops retaliated and the criminal sustained bullet injuries on his
legs, a police officer said.
Several criminal cases are pending against Panda at different police stations of the state, the officer added.
On Monday, wanted criminal Mohammad Sakil was brought to Cuttack from Andhra Pradesh, where he was nabbed on Saturday during a police raid. Sakil has over two dozen cases pending against him at various police stations across the state.