Sambalpur: A person with a long history of criminal activity was injured in an encounter with police in the Sambalpur district early this morning, police sources confirmed. The incident, which occurred near Rangiatikra village, involved 34-year-old Sitaram Sarangi, a resident of Sargdihi village under Gobindpur police limits.
According to Sambalpur Superintendent of Police (SP) MK Bhamoo, the police acted in self-defense after Shri Sarangi allegedly opened fire on the approaching security personnel. “Based on credible information, the police had gone to arrest him. However, Sarangi suddenly opened fire at the police team, firing three rounds,” SP Shri Bhamoo stated. “In response, police fired two rounds, and one of the bullets hit Shri Sarangi’s leg, injuring him.” The SP assured that Sarangi’s health condition is currently stable.
Police records indicate that Sitaram Sarangi has a significant criminal history, with as many as 25 cases registered against him, including charges of dacoity and attempt to murder. He was reportedly active in the districts of Sambalpur, Sundergarh, and Jharsuguda.
Following the encounter, police recovered a 7.65 mm country-made pistol, one live round, two fired cartridges, a motorcycle without a number plate, and some cash from Shri Sarangi’s possession.
This incident in Sambalpur marks the eleventh such encounter between police and individuals with criminal antecedents in various districts across Odisha in a span of less than 60 days, between February 17 and today, April 13, as per police sources.
The Sambalpur encounter comes just a day after a similar incident in the neighboring Jharsuguda district on Saturday, where two minor rape accused individuals sustained injuries while allegedly attempting to escape police custody. Furthermore, the state capital of Bhubaneswar witnessed an encounter on Friday, resulting in the arrest of an alleged drug peddler following a brief exchange of fire near Khandagiri hills. Bhubaneswar alone has recorded seven arrests following exchanges of fire on February 17, March 9, April 3, and April 11.
These repeated incidents of police encounters are likely to raise questions and discussions regarding law enforcement strategies and the prevalence of crime in the state. Authorities are yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing this recent surge in such incidents. The investigation into the Sambalpur encounter is currently underway.