Berhampur: A most-wanted criminal, K. Mohan Rao, 32, allegedly involved in at least 17 criminal cases, was arrested by Berhampur Sadar police after an exchange of fire at a mango grove near Jhadankuli village in Sadar police station limits, around 15km from here, in the early hours of Saturday.

"Mohan suffered bullet injuries on his right knee and left ankle after inspector in charge of Sadar police station Siba Shankar Mahapatra fired at him as an act of self defence when Mohan hurled two bombs on the police team and fired two rounds from his pistol. Mohapatra and sub-inspector Surya Narayan Padhi were injured in the bomb attack.

"The injured have been admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital for treatment," said sub-divisional police officer, Sadar, Ashok Kumar Mohanty.

The police have seized one pistol, one live bullet, two bombs and a motorcycle from Rao. An associate of Rao, who was with him, managed to flee, police said.

Acting on a tip-off at 3am, a special police team led by Mahapatra waited for him near the mango groves. When Rao and an aide approached the place on a motorcycle, the cops stopped them.

But Rao hurled bombs on the police and tried to escape. He fell down after Mahapatra's shot hit him, the SDPO said.

The police said Rao has been involved in crimes including attempt to murder, robbery, snatching and bombing cases.

"He had terrorised the public at Lochapada market by brandishing a pistol on January 1. He was wanted in three cases by the police," Mohanty said.

Rao is a native of Ram Krishna Nagar in Lochapada in Berhampur. "We are investigating about who was accompanying Mohan during the exchange of fire with the police and how he managed to escape," said Mohanty.

This encounter is the first after Pinak Mishra took charge as Berhampur police superintendent recently.