Cuttack: Police have nabbed two more notorious criminals after a pre-dawn encounter on Sunday.

The cops nabbed Manoj Kumar Moharana and Sudhakar Patra following an encounter after they opened fire at a chasing police team. The cops also recovered two 9mm pistols made in the US, 15 rounds, 12 mobile phones and Rs 6,000 in cash.

Manoj and Sudhakar had gained notoriety in areas under Sadar police limits in the past year for attempt to murder, wrongful restraint, endangering life and safety of others, bombing, illegal use of firearms and other offences.

Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh said Manoj, 33, and 31-year-old Sudhakar were also wanted for crimes in Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kamakhyanagar, Bhubaneswar, and Berhampur.

The police said a patrolling team spotted the duo on two motorcycles on the Kuakhai embankment near Pratapnagari around 3am. When the team chased them, they opened fire.

"Luckily, the bullet missed the cop," Singh said.