Aska: An elusive criminal was injured in an encounter with Aska police at Karanjei hill near Aska-Berhampur national highway 59 in the wee hours Friday.
The criminal has been identified as Ananta Narayan Pattnayak of Aska College Square area. Several cases of murder, attempt to murder and loot have been pending against Ananta at Aska, Dharakote, Shergad and Kabisuryanagar police stations.
A pistol, two live bullets and a bike were seized from his possession, said Baleswara Gidhi, officer-in-charge, Aska police station. Ananta sustained bullet injuries on his right leg and was admitted to the Aska community health centre. Later he was shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Acting on a tip off, police took position near Karanjei square, waiting for Ananta, who reached the spot on a bike with his accomplice. When Ananta saw the police, he turned his bike suddenly and went towards Karanjei hill. In order to save himself from the police, he opened three rounds of fire at them. However, his accomplice managed to give the police a slip.
Ananta’s arrest has been regarded as a considerable success for the police as he was eluding their dragnet for a long time. Ananta had been at large since May 31 when the court convicted him in a case related to the chopping off a hand of a physically-challenged near Nuagaon sugar mill. He was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment.
This has been the fourth encounter from Aska police since the last three years. The police had an encounter with Bulu Nayak of Nuagaon village December 23, 2015, followed by Chakanayan Nahak of Pakalapali May 21, 2016 and Bulu Patra of college square August 2, 2016.
