Bhubaneswar, Mar 18: A dreaded criminal with a long record of offences was injured in a police encounter in the early hours of Wednesday in Odisha’s Sambalpur district, officials said.

The accused, identified as Tima Jhankar alias Dhaneswar Jhankar, is reportedly involved in more than 41 criminal cases across the state, including dacoity, robbery and theft of aluminium conductor wires. Acting on intelligence inputs, a team from Odisha Police intercepted Jhankar and his associates in the Dumchhali forest area under Rairakhol police limits.

According to police sources, Jhankar and three of his accomplices allegedly opened fire on the police team in an attempt to escape. The police retaliated in self-defence, during which Jhankar sustained a bullet injury to his right leg. His three associates were apprehended at the spot after a brief operation.

During the search, police seized a pistol, live ammunition, a Bolero vehicle, wire cutters and other tools believed to have been used for cutting power transmission lines.

The injured criminal was immediately shifted to the Sub-Divisional Hospital in Rairakhol for treatment, where his condition is reported to be stable.

Police officials have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the involvement of the gang in recent crimes and to trace any additional associates linked to the network.

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