Police launched a search operation after three robbers escaped during an encounter here in the wee hours on Saturday.
The criminals who fled the spot were identified as Rakesh Prasad, Shankar Sahu and Shiv Shankar Panigrahi.
According to reports, the encounter took place at around 4.20 am in the Gopabandhu Nagar area under the Jeypore Town police limits following information about the presence of a gang of criminals plotting for a major dacoity in the area.
The miscreants opened two rounds of fire at a police team that also retaliated to capture them. However, the robbers managed to flee the spot. Police seized a 7mm empty bullet shell from the encounter spot.