Berhampur: The district police here nabbed yet another history-sheeter in a fierce encounter during a raid at his hideout Friday, police said Sunday.
The accused was identified as Santosh Goud (34) alias Khada of Dakhinpur village under Sadar police limits. Four police personnel also sustained injuries in crossfire during the encounter. A motorbike, a mauser and two round of bullets were seized from his possession.
This is the 32nd encounter in the district where 34 criminals have been nabbed till date, Ashis Kumar Singh, SP of Berhampur and Ganjam police districts said. Police was on the constant lookout for Goud as he was involved in crimes including dumping the bodies of a man Naresh Jena and his daughter in Dakhinpur area in a sack after murdering them.
He was also accused of luring minor girls with money and involving them in immoral works. Goud has 15 cases of theft, dacoity and murder cases registered in his name in various police stations of Ganjam district, he said.
The incident occurred when intelligence inputs alerted police that he was planning for a dacoity at a secluded place in Nua Baiganabadi Square. Acting on a tip-off, a team of Sadar police raided the place to arrest him.
Goud opened fire at the police but the latter retaliated with equal fire power and tried to overpower him. He tried to escape when two bullets fired by police pierced both his legs.
He collapsed on the spot and lost his sense as police lost no time to nab him. However, during the cross fire some of the bullets fired by Santosh also hit four policemen and rendered them critical.
Sadar police IIC Siba Shankar Mohapatra sustained injuries on his left hand in the bullet fired by Santosh, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Ashok Mohanty said.
The injured police personnel and the accused were rushed to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and administered treatment. The condition of the injured police personnel are stated to be stable after treatment while Santosh is undergoing treatment, Mohanty said. PNN