Sambalpur: Wanted criminal and mastermind of a power grid loot was injured in an encounter with police in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Saturday.
According to police sources, three members of a dacoit gang had been arrested for alleged theft of electrical equipment worth more than Rs 23 lakh from an under-construction power grid near Charmal in the district on the night of August 22. The buyer of the stolen goods was also arrested from Kolkata.
But police were on lookout for the mastermind of the loot and wanted criminal Sanjib Karali. On Saturday, they received reliable information that he was moving with a gun at Ramphela under Rengali police station in the district.
Acting on the inputs, a police team went to Ramphela and tried to apprehend Sanjib. But the wanted criminal fired at the police team and in retaliation, the latter opened fire.
While the fire exchange was going on, Sanjib was hit by a bullet on his right leg and the police captured him. Sanjib was first admitted in the local hospital at Rengali and later, shifted to VIMSAR at Burla.
Sanjib has 23 criminal cases including loot, theft, and cheating pending against him at different police stations, the sources said.
Also Read: 4 Held For Loot Of Electrical Goods Worth Rs 23 Lakh From Power Grid In Odisha’s Sambalpur
