Lamtaput: Pradip Kumar Nayak, a sub-inspector (SI) of Machhkund police station in Koraput district, sustained critical bullet injuries after miscreants sprayed bullets on a patrol jeep Wednesday night in Maoist-dominated Jalaput area.
A bullet brushed his neck and left him profusely bleeding. The SI was fist taken to the local community health centre and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital. At least six unidentified men opened fire at the jeep, he said.
According to reports, the SI along with other policemen including Machhkund IIC Bimal Kumar Mallik left in jeep for a night patrolling in Jalaput. Nayak, who was driving the vehicle, reduced the speed on a stretch as it was in a bad shape.
Miscreants, holed up at the spot, sprayed bullets on the vehicles. The door and windshield of the vehicle were damaged while a bullet hit SI Nayak. The assaulters also pelted stones at the vehicle.
Unperturbed by the attack, Nayak managed to escape certain death with the team increasing the speed of the jeep.
Panic gripped the area after the incident even as it was not clear whether the gunmen were Maoists or ganja traders. PNN
