Kendrapara: Notorious criminal Debi Prasad alias Litu Das (30) was injured in an encounter near Tikhiri-Baudh road under Marshaghai police limits in Kendrapara district Sunday night.
Litu, who sustained bullet injuries on his right leg, was first admitted at Kendrapara district hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Police seized a pistol and a motor cycle from his possession.
Litu, who was released from the jail February 16, had allegedly committed two crimes till Sunday.
He reportedly asked ransom money from a contractor at Batira village near Patkura. Litu also allegedly opened fire at Sajan Behera’s house at Dhaniapada village near Marshaghai. The police were on the lookout for Litu in connection with these cases.
Acting on a tip off that Litu was on his way towards Jagatsinghpur, Marshaghai IIC Kalandi Behera, district special squad ASI P K Kanungo along with two teams laid a trap on Tikhiri-Baudh road.
Litu opened fire at the cops in a bid to escape. In retaliation, police opened three rounds of fire, leaving Litu injured.
He has several criminal cases including murder, attempt to murder, ransom money collection, vehicle and bike lifting pending against him at different police stations, said SDPO Rajiv Lochan Panda.
Notably, the district police have been involved in seven encounters since May 2018. In the first encounter 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 May 31. July 23, police picked up Bhabanishankar Sahu alias Babu of Basulei Lane near Town police station.
October 7 Santosh (36) was nabbed. Sanjay alias Babu Biswal (32), ringleader of the notorious Sapa gang at Kurundi near Rajnagar, was arrested January 22 this year. Later Ganesh Mallick alias Julu (30) was nabbed after an encounter at Halpur on Nankar-Kajala road near Sadar.
PNN