Kendrapara: A gangster wanted in over a dozen of cases, including murder, was grievously injured on Wednesday morning after an encounter with police patrol squad at the Derabish-Aanlabanka road in Sadar police limits.

Acting on a tip-off, the police had conducted raids on the hideout of the history-sheeter, Seikh Mozalin, 33. Sensing danger, the criminal all of a sudden opened fire at the police team. In retaliation, the cops had to fire at him. The gun battle had lasted for about five minutes.

An improvised revolver, 10 rounds of live cartridges and explosives were seized from his possession, said sub-divisional police officer Rajib Lochan Panda.

Mozalin received gunshots at his left thigh. He has been shifted to Kendrapara district headquarters hospital.

During Wednesday's gunfight, the policemen had narrow escape as two rounds of bullets fired by Mozalin hissed past them.

The police had been in search of Mozalin, who was wanted in at least 15 criminal cases. A native of Haladia in Derabish police limits, he had mobilised a crime syndicate and unleashed lawlessness. "He has been involved in criminal cases, including attempt to murder, extortion, tender-fixing and illegal arms possession," said a police official. Highway robbery and extortion figured at the top of his crime agenda. His area of operation was in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur districts.

On January 1, 2017, Mozalin gunned down a trader, Sridhar Sahu, as he had refused to pay the extortion money. He led the gang with a dozen of others associates.

The latest crackdown on lawbreakers has come in the wake of the fast-deteriorating law and order situation in various parts of the district. The failure on part of law-enforcing agencies in curbing the lawlessness has triggered public resentment.