An interstate robber wanted in more than 30 theft cases across Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj sustained a bullet injury during a police encounter in Kendujhar district early Monday.
Police identified the accused as Mohammad Nafis, a resident of Jharkhand. Officers said Nafis had been involved in a series of thefts across the two districts. They arrested him earlier and took him to Patala forest near Champua around 5 a.m. to recover stolen property allegedly hidden after multiple thefts.
During the recovery operation, Nafis retrieved a country-made firearm concealed in the forest. He fired two rounds at the police team while attempting to escape. Champua police retaliated in self-defence and shot Nafis in the right knee.
Police immediately shifted Nafis to Champua Hospital. Doctors later referred him to Keonjhar District Headquarters Hospital for advanced treatment.
Officers seized the country-made gun from his possession. They confirmed that further investigation will track Nafis’ associates and expose the interstate criminal network suspected of orchestrating thefts across Odisha.
