Wanted criminal nabbed after encounter, three cops hurt

Surjit Kumar Dhal,Cuttack, March 20: Commissionerate police nabbed a wanted notorious criminal with bullet injury on his leg after an encounter on Mahanadi embankment within Malgodown police limit in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The criminal is allegedly involved in the recent brutal attack on city-based trader Damodar Bhawsinka.

        The injured criminal Manoj Kumar Swain alias Manua of Birakishorepur under Ersama police station in Jagatsinghpur has been admitted SCB Medical College and Hospital.

           DCP Akhilsevar Singh said, acting on a tip off about Manua’s hideout at the backside of Biswaguru Law College near a water tank on Mahanadi river embankment, a team of Malgodown police raided the spot.

Seeing the policemen advancing towards him, Manua hurled a bomb at them injuring the IIC Rabi Narayan Bhanja, SI Sunil Yadav and Havildar Gulam Mohammad.

In a bid to warn the criminal, the injured Bhanja resorted to one round of blank fire.

“While the criminal hurled another bomb aiming at the police party, anticipating imminent danger to his life as well as life of other police personnel, Bhanja, in exercise of the right of private defense, opened one round of controlled fire from his service revolver aiming below his waist.

The shot hit the left leg of the criminal as a result of which he fell down,” said Singh adding the police team then nabbed him.

Three live bombs were seized from his possession.

 Singh said that Manua was allegedly involved in slitting the throat of the sugar candy trader Damodar Bhawsinka of Malgodown, after the latter refused to give him extortion money on March 16 night.

Police got vital clues regarding Manua’s involvement after the victim identified him through some photographs of criminals, he said.

The arrested criminal is involved in a number of crimes, including in the killing of gangster Sheik Suleman of Kendrapara the details of which are now being verified, said the DCP.