Aska: Notorious criminal Gaju Nayak alias Kishan Patra (28), involved in as many as six criminal cases was nabbed by police after being injured in a brief encounter Tuesday. Patra hails from Aska NAC Tota Sahi.
The encounter took place near Charimaili on Aska-Balipadar road early Tuesday. Patra sustained bullet injuries on his left knee and was admitted to Aska Government Hospital. After preliminary treatment, he was shifted to Berhampur-based MKCG Medical College and Hospital where he was recovering after the bullet was removed, according to reports.
Police also seized a pistol, two live bullets and a motorbike from the encounter spot. On the other hand, one of Patra’s accomplices gave police a slip and escaped during the encounter.
According to police, Patra along with his aide was going on a motorbike to Balipadar on some criminal mission. Acting on a tip-off, a police team intercepted him and demanded surrender.
However, Patra turned his bike and tried to escape following which the police chased him. Later, he was reported to have opened fire at the police. In retaliation, police opened fire at Patra who fell down from his motorbike after a bullet struck his left leg, Aska IIC Baleswar Gidhi said adding that Patra’s aide has been identified and efforts are on to arrest him.
“We have sent alerts of the absconder to all police stations and will arrest him soon,” Gidhi further stated. Patra has several cases of murder, firing, loot and dacoit pending against him in many police stations. He was involved in a murder at Humuki village, loot of gold ornaments from a businessman and firing at a local temple, police said. A case has been registered and Patra will be taken for interrogation after his condition becomes normal.
Efforts by Ganjam police to make the district criminal free has received praise from all quarters. The mission that started a couple of years back has seen many criminals serving jail terms. While the district has witnessed close to 30 encounters in the last couple of years, Aska police now have five encounters to their credit.
In a similar manner, hardcore criminal Bulu Nayak of Nuagaon village was held after an encounter December 23, 2015. Then, Chakanayan Nahak of Paklapali met with the same fate May 21, 2016 followed by Bulu Patra’s encounter August 2, 2016 and Anant Narayan Patnaik August 4, 2017. PNN