Cuttack: Police have continued with its crackdown on criminals and nabbed a number of gangsters in an unprecedented seven encounters in less than five months.

On Thursday night, the cops arrested Soumya Ranjan Sahu after a gunfight and seized a 9mm pistol and ammunition from him.

Sahu had gained notoriety in Lalbag and Bidanasi for attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, bombing, illegal use of firearms, wrongful restraint, endangering life and safety of others, and other offences, said the police.

Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh said the Soumya, 24, was wanted in a series of criminal offences.

The Choudwar police station inspector-in-charge got a tip-off around 9.30pm on Thursday that Sahu had been seen near Kalamandir. Consequently, a police team set out to apprehend him. When Sahu realised he was bring pursued, he tried to escape on a motorcycle. When the cops signalled him to stop, he tried to flee but his ride skidded and he began running.

Subsequently, he took out a pistol and fired at the cops.

"When he was about to fire the second round, the Choudwar inspector-in-charge realised the imminent danger, fired one round from his service pistol aiming below the accused's waist in exercising his right of private defence and hit his right leg," Singh said. "Sahu fell down and was caught. He was immediately sent to SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment."

On January 12, the cops nabbed Budhia Nahak was nabbed after a similar encounter. The police had nabbed Tapan Nayak on December 8, Pinaki Ranjan Barik on October 17, Kalandi Khuntia on September 25, Sk Rahul on September 5 and Ragunath Das on August 15.