The Ganjam police on Thursday nabbed a notorious dacoit, Babu Nayak, after an encounter near Pathargad in the district. It was a significant achievement for the police as Babu had managed to elude their dragnet for the last few years.
Police claimed that Babu was involved in more than 40 cases of robbery and carried a reward on his head.
Babu sustained bullet injuries and was admitted to the Bhanjanagar hospital in a critical condition. A pistol, live ammunitions, country-made bombs, detonators and nearly one kg of gold ornaments were seized from his possession.
Of late, the district police have succeeded in nabbing a number of notorious criminals after encounters. The criminals had spread a reign of terror, for which the law and order situation had deteriorated alarmingly in Ganjam district.