Cuttack: Police have arrested two notorious criminals involved in extortion and tender-fixing racket cases.

Around 10.15pm on Thursday, a special squad arrested Sk Kala Babu alias Babu Khan and Denga alias Alekha Routray after a gunfight. The police found a 9mm pistol and two rounds of live ammunition from them.

Police said Babu of Deewan Bazar had gained notoriety over the past one year for extortion and tender fixing. Alekha of Sailo Badbil was allegedly involved in a series of crimes in Odisha.

Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh said the 42-year-old Babu and 40-year-old Alekha were wanted in a case of Chauliaganj police station for attempt to murder, wrongful restraint, endangering life and safety of others and illegal use of fire arms offences.

Acting on a tip-off, the special squad led by Chauliaganj police station inspector in charge Ajay Kumar Das, proceeded to the Mahanadi riverbed near Bhadimula and found the two there.

When the police approached them, they immediately tried to run away. When the cops gave them a chase, Alekha fished out a pistol and fired at them while Babu lobbed a bomb. No police personnel was injured.

"When Alekha was about to fire a second time, the police fired back and hit him in both legs personnel resorted to control firing in order to immobilize them, hitting Aleka on both legs and Babu on the right leg. When both fell to the ground bleeding, the cops nabbed them and shifted them to SCB hospital for treatment," Singh said. With the arrest of Babu and Alekha, the number of arrests in 10 encounters in less than eight months climbed to 13.