Gangsters in cop net

Gangster Kalandi Khuntia

Cuttack, Sept. 26: Police nabbed dreaded gangster Kalandi Khuntia following an encounter near the Kathajodi riverbed last night.

Sankarpuri resident Khuntia had been wanted for his involvement in several cases of extortion, murder and other crimes in and around the Badambadi bus stand area.

Khuntia first opened fire on the police while being chased. The cops retaliated soon afterwards and a bullet hit Khutia in his right leg.

The police have recovered one pistol from him.

Badambadi police station inspector-in-charge Biranchi Narayan Pati, who suffered injuries on his left hand in the encounter, in Cuttack on Tuesday. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh said: "Khuntia is a notorious criminal, who was involved in several extortion cases, two murder cases, apart from bombing and other cases involving breach of peace in Cuttack."

On August 30 last year, too, Khuntia was arrested and had been in jail till his release on bail a few months ago.

A squad, led by Badambadi police station inspector-in-charge Biranchi Narayan Pati, tracked Khuntia to the Kathajodi riverbed in front of Rajabagicha Sweeper Colony at 9.20pm yesterday.

In a related incident in Ganjam, criminal Kisan Patra alias Gaju Naik was injured in a police encounter near Charmile Square in Aska late last night. Acting on a tip-off, a special police squad raided the area. Gaju fired one round on the police, following which the cops retaliated.

Gaju also suffered injuries on his right leg and was rushed to Aska Hospital. He was later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. A gun, two live bullets and a motorcycle were seized from him. However, his aide Kiran Pal managed to give the police a slip. Patra was wanted in more than cases.

Murder arrests

The police have arrested five more persons for their involvement in the murder of BJD councillor of Chatrapur Notified Area Council Laxmidutta Pradhan on September 16. The police had on September 22 nabbed eight accused persons on the basis of CCTV footage from within and outside the state. Those who have been arrested are Sonu alias Prabhat Nayak, Surya Nayak, Prem Nayak, M. Eeswar Reddy, Kuna Nayak, Jiten Nayak, Sushil Nayak and Prasant Swain