Two dreaded criminals were nabbed after an encounter by police at Kaji Patana near Mangalpur in Puri district on Thursday night. The duo was identified as Subash Pradhan and Amar Omkar. After the encounter they were admitted to Pipili hospital and later shifted to Cuttack for advanced treatment. Both of them suffered bullet injuries on the legs. A motor cycle, a pistol and five rounds of live ammunition were seized from their possession, police added. On a tipoff, a special team led by Puri SDPO Susil Mishra conducted raid in Kajipatana to nab the criminals while they were planning to execute a major crime. Spotting the police, the duo fired three rounds at police and tried to escape from the spot. But in the retaliatory firing by the cops in self-defence, they were injured and nabbed. Both the criminals were earlier arrested in a murder case in Surat of Gujarat. Later, they were released on bail. They are the main accused in the Ganga Bhol firing case that took place near Kathapola under the Sadar police station, SDPO Mishra said.