Criminal injured during encounter in Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda: A man wanted in at least 11 criminal cases was injured in a shootout with police in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district on Saturday. Officials said the accused, identified as Jai Chauhan, was shot in his right leg during the encounter in the Rengali police station area and was admitted to the Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital. Chauhan, a resident of Gandhi Chowk in Brajrajnagar, was allegedly leading a gang planning a major robbery when police launched an operation based on intelligence inputs. However, upon seeing the police, Chauhan opened fire and tried to flee. Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police G.R. Raghavendra told reporters that the police retaliated in self-defense, and he was shot. Police said Chauhan’s four associates managed to escape, while he fell unconscious after being shot in the leg. The official said Chauhan has cases registered against him in Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts related to attempted murder, robbery, extortion, and violation of the Arms Act.

This is the second police encounter with alleged criminals in Jharsuguda district this month. On May 12, two men wanted in a murder case were injured in a shootout with police, officials said.