Bhubaneswar, June 11: A notorious criminal was injured in a police encounter in Bhadrak district during the early hours of Thursday after he allegedly opened fire on a police team attempting to apprehend him. Three police personnel, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), a constable and a police inspector, also sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.
The injured accused has been identified as Papu Mallick, a known criminal with several cases reportedly registered against him. He sustained a bullet injury to his right leg and was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for treatment.
According to police sources, the encounter took place around 3:30 am in the Nuasahi forest area near Law College under Bhadrak Rural police station limits. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, police teams from Bhadrak Sadar, Bhadrak Rural and Puruna Bazar police stations launched a joint operation under the direction of Bhadrak Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rout.
During the operation, Papu and an associate allegedly arrived at the spot on a Pulsar motorcycle carrying a firearm and other weapons. Police suspected that the duo had assembled there to carry out a criminal activity. Bhadrak Rural Police Inspector Subrat Das and his team immediately moved in to intercept them.
As the police attempted to apprehend the suspects, Papu allegedly fired two rounds at the officers. The police retaliated in self-defence, and one bullet struck him in the right leg. While his associate managed to flee the scene, Papu fell and was arrested.
A four-member scientific team led by officer Sangeeta Hasda later examined the encounter site. Police recovered a country-made firearm and two live 9 mm cartridges. The area remains under security as efforts continue to trace the absconding associate and investigate the case further.
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