Hardcore criminal nabbed after exchange of fire

CUTTACK: A hardcore criminal Pinaki Ranjan Barik alias Khokan (34) was nabbed by the Commissionerate Police following an encounter here on the wee hours of Tuesday. Khokan, who sustained a bullet injury on his right leg, was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital here.
DCP Akhilesvar Singh said acting on a tip of that Khokan and his associate Aswini Kumar Jena (38) were to meet behind Santosh Petrol Pump, Link Road at about 3.45 am with an intention to hurl bomb, IIC Badambadi police station Biranchi Narayan Pati rushed to the spot with special squad.

Seeing police, Khokan tried to escape by opening fire at police from his revolver but his first target went amiss and when he was about to fire the second round, Pati opened fire at Khokan which hit in the right leg.Police seized a country-made pistol, three rounds of live ammunition, a live bomb and an autorickshaw from the spot.  The other accused, Aswini who had managed to escape from the spot, was arrested later during a raid on his hideout, Singh said.

They have confessed to hurling series of bombs on contract basis, he added.The masterminds Akhay Kumar Rout alias Akhi, Kalandi Khuntia, Iswar Rout alias Babu had hatched a conspiracy to create panic in the busy Badambadi locality and engaged criminal Khokan and Aswini Jena to hurl bombs, Singh said adding that Kalandi, Babu and another Gedu alias Bishnu Charan Swain who were earlier arrested in this connection are in jail.

While Khokan of Balisahi in Jagatsinghpur was wanted in 10 criminal cases, Aswini of Asana Ata in Kendrapara who is an autorickshaw driver by profession is involved in eight criminal cases under Badambadi police limits, Singh informed.