Kendrapara: Notorious criminal Ganesh Mallick alias Julu (30) was nabbed after an encounter with the police at Halpur square near Sadar in Kendrapara district in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Ganesh, who sustained bullet injuries on his right leg, was admitted at Kendrapara district hospital. Later he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Ganesh, a resident of Nankar village near Sadar police limits, has been absconding for the last four years. He has more than 20 cases registered against him including threatening people, attempt to murder, extortion and bike lifting at various police stations in Kendrapara, Jajpur and Sundargarh districts, said Kendrapara SDPO Rajeev Lochan Panda.
Police were tipped that Julu was coming to his village Monday night. Sadar police IIC Kabuli Barik and ASI of district special squad PK Kanungo led two teams that laid a trap at Halpur square on Nankar-Kajala road.
Seeing the cops, Julu opened fire in a bid to escape. In retaliation, police too fired two rounds in which Julu sustained injuries.
The district police have been involved in six encounters since May 2018. In the first May 9, notorious criminal Sk Lala (34) of Haladi village near Sadar was nabbed. Gangster Bibhu Sahu alias Pratap Sahu (47) of Bhagabanpur village near Marshaghai was arrested in the second, May 31. In another face-off July 23, police picked up Bhabanishankar Sahu alias Babu of Basulei Lane near Town police station.
Other incidents took place October 7 in which Santosh (36) was nabbed followed by the arrest of Sanjay alias Babu Biswal (32), ringleader of the notorious Sapa gang at Kurundi near Rajnagar, January 22 this year.
PNN