Continuing its crackdown against notorious criminals, the Ganjam police on Tuesday arrested dreaded criminal Benu Barik after an encounter near Ramapada forest under the Buguda police station of Ganjam district.
Sources said police received information that Benu and his associate were moving on a bike towards Ramapada forest in the early morning.
A police team followed them and intercepted the criminals near Ramapada forest. Spotting the cops, Benu opened fire and tried to flee from the spot. However, the police retaliated in self-defence.
Benu sustained injuries on his left leg and was rushed to a hospital in Bhanjanagar. However, his associate managed to escape the police dragnet.
Police seized a country made gun and a bike from Benu’s possession.
Benu who is a resident of Jampatna village under the Odagaon police station of Nayagarh district was lodged in Khordha jail after being convicted in as many as 10 cases of extortion, loot and robbery.
But he managed to get released from jail on parole and was carrying out various criminal activities in Ganjam district.
He was one of the prime accused in the high profile Manitara Rushikulya Gramya Bank robbery in the district.