Bhadrak: A notorious history-sheeter was arrested following a police encounter in Nuasahi forest area near Law College under Bhadrak Rural police limits early Thursday morning.
The criminal, identified as Prafulla Mallik alias Papu, sustained a bullet injury to his right leg during the exchange of fire. The gunfight also left three police personnel, including an inspector, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), and a constable, injured.
According to police sources, the operation was launched around 3:30 am based on specific intelligence indicating that Mallik and an associate had arrived at the secluded spot on a motorcycle, armed
with weapons to plot a robbery. Acting on the directives of Bhadrak SP Manoj Kumar Rout, a joint team comprising officers from Bhadrak Sadar, Rural, and Puruna Bazar police stations conducted a raid. On noticing the police, Mallik opened fire two rounds in an attempt to escape. The police team, led by Bhadrak Rural Police Inspector Subrat Das, retaliated in self-defence, striking Mallik in the right leg. While Mallik fell to the ground and was immediately apprehended, his accomplice managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
The injured police officers and the criminal were initially rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Bhadrak. Due to the severity of his injuries, Mallik was subsequently shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Following the incident, a four-member scientific team led by officer Sangeeta Hasda arrived at the site to initiate a thorough investigation. A country-made gun, two used cartridges, and two live 9mm rounds were recovered from the spot. The encounter site has been cordoned off and remains under tight police security.
According to police records, over 25 criminal cases, including multiple counts of murder and robbery, registered against him across various police stations in Bhadrak and Balasore districts