BHUBANESWAR: A notorious anti-social was arrested following an encounter with the police at VSS Nagar area during the wee hours of Saturday. Nihar Ranjan Pradhan (30), who was wanted in connection with the recent VSS Nagar firing, took a bullet in his right leg and has been admitted to SCB Medical, Cuttack. A police patrol spotted Pradhan behind Sainik School area at about 1.30 am and asked him to give himself up. He reportedly opened fire at the police who retaliated. Wanted in at least a dozen cases, Pradhan’s arrest was pending in six cases. The criminal, who hails from Puri, is wanted by Puri Police in connection with a murder as well as an attack on a cash-carrying van. Cuttack Police were on the lookout for him in two cases. Last year, he and his gang had waylaid a vehicle in which BJD leader Damodar Rout’s son was travelling. Though three of his associates had been held, Pradhan was absconding. Police Commissioner BK Sharma said police verification had revealed Pradhan’s involvement in murder of Dipu Maharana at Madhupatna last year. “He was a history-sheeter who took to crime in 2003 and his area of operation extended from Ganjam to Jagatsinghpur,” he said. Earlier in June, Pradhan (alias Mitu) and his associate had opened fire on a person in the crowded VSS Nagar market. Although police had zeroed in on him, he continued to evade arrest while his partner was held. Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh said when Pradhan was intercepted, he was asked to surrender but he fired two rounds at the police team following which the cops returned fire. One bullet hit him while another scraped past him. Pradhan, who suffered multiple injuries while offering resistance to the police, had to be disarmed forcibly. Sahid Nagar Inspector Alok Jena was hurt in the process. The anti-social was initially rushed to Capital Hospital but as his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to SCB.
Comments
0 comment