Cuttack, May 9: The city police today registered an FIR on the firing incident in which notorious criminal Bibekananda Sahu alias Chaga was injured on Saturday night.

Chaga, who was injured when some shooters fired at him near Bombay Hotel at College Square around 8.45pm, had been arrested in 2002 and 2007 under the National Security Act (NSA).

“Three persons attacked me from behind and fled after firing three rounds on me. I have identified all the three attackers and I have already mentioned their names in an FIR with Malgodown police today,” Chaga said.

Chaga, who is undergoing treatment at the S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, revealed the alleged plot behind the attack on him. According to him, tender-fixing and past rivalry were the prime reasons behind the attack.

“They had come in a bid to kill me as my witness led to the conviction of three accused in the 2007 Godhi alias Ranjan Mallaha murder case,” said Chaga.

According to Chaga, the shootout is the fallout of his previous enmity with an opponent gang, which wanted to kill him because all the three accused — Tanmay Kumar Patra alias Tanua, Binay Kumar Patra alias Mentalia and Bijay Patra alias Methu were sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the case on May 5.

Beside this, I was also the target as despite repeated threats, I had participated in a tender bid in Mahanadi south division. I was warned several times not to bid in the tender process.

The attack was planned well before and local youths of Patra Sahi helped the attackers to identify Chaga. The contract killers were paid Rs One lakh to kill him, Chaga said.

When asked about his links with gangsters like Sandip alias Raja Acharya and Tito, Chaga said that for the past five years he has had no contact with Raja and he only knew Tito during his stay in jail.

Chaga had received a bullet injury on his upper thigh and was rushed to the hospital after the attack on Saturday night. His condition is now stable, doctors said.

More than 18 cases pertaining to attempt to murder, extortion, robbery and loot are registered against Chaga.

Senior police officers suspect that Chaga might also have been injured accidentally by his own revolver. However, they refused to divulge developments in the case.

Police sources said that efforts are on to nab the culprits and raids are also being conducted at various places.

This is the fourth shootout in the last two months in the city.

On March 8, a contractor was allegedly shot at by two armed assailants near Sikharpur area over an old rivalry.

On March 24, a contractor Bijay Kumar Routray was shot dead near Kandarpur area. Two persons — Asit Kumar Das, 20, and Sushant Sahoo alias Titi, 25, were arrested in connection with the murder case on April 13.

On April 22, a man escaped unhurt when some people fired at him near Duga Chhack area in Jobra. Later, eight persons were arrested in connection with the incident on April 30.