Bhubaneswar, March 3: The quick action team of police today arrested a history-sheeter Harishankar Rout alias Dipu, 25, following an encounter on the city outskirts.

Rout was injured as a bullet hit his left knee during the exchange of fire. While Prakash Jena, 28, an accomplice of Rout, was also detained. But, two of his friends managed to escape.

Sources said a patrolling police vehicle spotted two speeding motorcycles with four youths on the Cuttak-Bhubaneswar NH-5 near Nakhara late in the evening. As the police found their movement suspicious, they followed them.

While trailing them, the police found that the vehicles suddenly took the Puri bypass on the NH-203. However, after a chase on the new highway, the bikers first fired at the police vehicle. The cops retaliated and Rout got shot.

A police official said: "Firearms were also seized from the duo. After a preliminary treatment at Capital Hospital, Rout was referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack."