Kendrapara, April 9: A criminal was injured following an encounter with police patrolling squad near Ramnagar in the Mahakalpada police station jurisdiction during early hours today.

Pratap Sahu, 30, and his gang opened fire at the police team which later retaliated. The gun battle lasted for about 20 minutes. Fire arms and a motorbike were seized at the spot while five of Sahu’s accomplices escaped.

A native of Patkura, Sahu had mobilised a crime syndicate. He was involved in at least 15 criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, extortion, tender-fixing and illegal arms possession, said Kendrapara superintendent of police Sarthak Sadangi.

On a tip-off, the police had raided Sahu’s hideout during early hours today when five of his aides suddenly opened fire. The police retaliated. A bullet hit Sahu’s left leg and he was taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.

Sahu was the mastermind of an extortion, tender-fixing racket and highway robbery racket in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Paradip and Jajpur.

The police launched a crackdown by sealing the entry and exit routes to the area. The criminals were spotted near a cashew nut orchard at Bahakud ferry ghat. The cops chased them when they tried to flee. Following this the armed gang opened fire at the police. The patrol squad consisting of about a dozen of policemen, including officers of inspector rank, had a narrow escape.

In self-defence, the squad retaliated and fired two rounds at the revolver-wielding law-breakers, said Sadangi.