Bhubaneswar, March 8: In an encounter with police, a criminal sustained bullet injuries on Kalinga Vihar-Ghatikia road last night.

The cops opened fire after the goon, Bibhu Jena, 22, who is also the kingpin of a Ganjam based gang, shot at them.

The gang, led by Bibhu, was involved in two dacoity cases in Bhubaneswar in February. On February 2, armed goons had opened fire at Aditya Pradhan, 35, a manager of a liquor shop near Garage Chhak, and decamped with Rs 1 lakh.

Parida succumbed to injuries shortly after.

Again on February 22, armed goons had opened fire at two employees of a jewellery shop in Dumuduma and had decamped with gold ornaments weighing around one kilogram and Rs 40,000.

Police said Bibhu, a native of Ganjam district, was the leader of the gang, which was involved in these two cases.

'We have mounted surveillance on Bibhu and last night our patrolling squad got specific information regarding a black red pulsar vehicle moving in Tamando area. When we chased the vehicle, the pillion rider managed to escape, but Bibhu stopped the two-wheeler and started firing at us indiscriminately. He fired around six rounds, two of which hit our vehicle,' said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

In retaliation, the cops therefore had to fire two rounds following which Jena sustained injuries under his knee. Later he was rushed to the Capital Hospital and subsequently referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, said Sharma.

The cops have also also seized a pistol and ammunitions from Bibhu and later based on his statement, conducted raids at several locations in Bhubaneswar and Ganjam district and arrested six other gang members, including the one who looted the gold ornaments.

A pistol and gold ornaments weighing around 800 grams and Rs 91,000 have been recovered from them.

The other accused has been identified as Arjun Behera, 22, Chandan Jena, 22, Balaram Dakua, 24, Hasim Akhtar, 26, Sk. Anwar Hosen, 36, and Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, 39. All were involved in dacoity case in Dumuduma.

The police are also trying to nab three other accused in murder of liquor shop manager and two other persons involved in Dumuduma dacoity case.

The cops said the gang used to get specific information on their targets via local informer and Bibhu, along with other gang members, used to open fire before looting cash and other valuables.

'So far we have found Bibhu's involvement in as many as 15 cases in Bhubaneswar and other areas across the state,' said the police commissioner.

Earlier on March 3, notorious criminal Harishankar Rout was injured in a police encounter on Cuttack-Puri bypass road after police retaliated to his gunshots.