Notorious Criminal Killed, Another Injured In Police Encounter

Bhanjanagar: A notorious criminal was killed while another sustained critical injuries in an exchange of fire with police in Baghua forest under Buguda police limits in Ganjam district late on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Srikanta Rana.

Acting on a tip-off that Srikanta and his associate Gouri Shankar Swain were on their way to Buguda from Bhubaneswar, a police team followed them near the forest area. Seeing the cops, the criminals opened fire on them. In retaliatory firing, both of them sustained bullet injuries on their legs and were rushed to Buguda hospital for treatment. However, Srikanta succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

The duo was involved in a number of criminal cases, including the recent Rusikulya bank robbery.