Bhubaneswar/Puri: The prime suspect in the February 1 stabbing death of a transgender was injured in a police encounter at Pipili in Odisha’s Puri district during a dramatic operation on Wednesday night.
According to sources, the accused, identified as 25-year-old Krushna Kandi a resident of Gadarupasa in the district, sustained a bullet wound in his left leg and was immediately admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for treatment, where he is reported to be out of danger.
Puri SP Prateek Singh said that police had been tracking Kandi in connection with the murder. The accused spotted police near the Pipili-Puri bypass at around 8 pm and attempted to escape on his motorcycle. When pursued, he allegedly fired at the police personnel, prompting them to retaliate with controlled firing that struck him in the leg. No policemen were injured in the incident.
An illegal firearm was recovered from Kandhi, whom police described as a habitual offender booked for multiple snatching cases in the district.
The SP added that he will be formally arrested once discharged from the hospital.
Body of the 25-year-old transgender, a yoga instructor from Salepur residing in Bhubaneswar, was recovered from an isolated stretch of NH-316 near Uttara Chhak, close to the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA). The victim had suffered multiple stab wounds following an apparent altercation. Subsequent investigation, aided by CCTV footage and phone records, pointed to Kandi’s involvement. The exact motive behind the attack is yet to be ascertained.
