Two Wanted Criminals Injured In Separate Encounters

Puri/Berhampur: A most-wanted criminal was injured in an encounter with police in Ganjam district while another was shot at by unidentified youths in Puri town early on Tuesday.

In the first incident, Anant Kumar Machhua alias Mani, a native of Ranpur area in Nayagarh district was injured during an encounter with Khallikote police near Gudidhepa village in Ganjam district in the early morning hours.

Acting on a tip-off about the presence of Mani in Gudidhepa village, a team of Khallikote police raided the village. Seeing the police team, Mani opened fire on them. As police retaliated, he fell off his motorcycle after sustaining bullet injury in his right leg.

Police later seized a country-made pistol, three live bullets and a motorcycle from his possession and admitted him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Khallikote. He was later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as his condition became critical.

According to police, Mani was involved in a recent dacoity at Badaghati village in Khallikote. He has over 10 cases of dacoity, loot and snatching pending against them in different police stations in Khurda, Nayagarh and Ganjam districts.

In another incident, wanted-criminal was seriously injured after he was shot at by three unidentified youths near Gundicha temple at Saradhabali of Puri town in the early morning hours.

According to reports, the injured criminal Sanjay Behera alias Para stays behind in the Gundicha temple. He had come to the market area near Nakachana Dwara of the temple in Saradhabali area in the morning when three youths, hiding near a place suddenly opened fire on him. Following the incident, Para tried to run away from the area as one bullet missed him. But the three youths chased him and opened another round of fire on him which hit his left shoulder. After Para fell down, the youths hit his head with a brick and fled the area.

Following information, a team of Kumbharapada police and a scientific team rushed to the spot. Police later admitted Para to the district headquarters hospital. However, he was later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Talking to mediapersons, City DSP, Puri, Prasant Kumar Patnaik said Para was recently released from the jail. He was involved in a series of bombing and extortion cases in the town.

Asked about the reason for the incident, he said since Para had enmity with a rival group and the latter might have tried to eliminate him. “We are investigating the incident and efforts are on to arrest the miscreants,” he added/