A 42-year-old murder accused with an extensive criminal background, Md Samad, was injured in a police encounter near Khandual, Odisha, in the early hours of Tuesday.
Samad, a resident of Motijharan in the Dhanupali area, was wanted for the murder of 30-year-old Asfaq Khan. The attack, which occurred around 10 PM on Sunday, was reportedly the result of a long-standing enmity. Samad, along with his brother Md Wasim (35), allegedly stabbed Asfaq to death using sharp weapons.
According to Additional SP Srimanta Barik, the murder case was registered at Dhanupali Police Station under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by the victim’s brother, Jabij Khan.
A special police team formed to apprehend the accused received intelligence about Samad’s location near Khandual. When confronted, Samad reportedly opened fire at the police team, firing two rounds. Exercising restraint, the police retaliated with controlled fire, injuring Samad in the left leg below the knee.
He was taken to VIMSAR, Burla, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
During the operation, police recovered:
A pistol with live ammunition
Three empty cartridges
A motorcycle
A mobile phone
Additional SP Barik confirmed that Md Samad is a habitual criminal, with at least 15 cases registered against him in Dhanupali and Sambalpur Town Police Stations over the past 20 years. His charges include assault, sexual offences, immoral trafficking, possession of arms, dacoity, and attempt to murder.
Meanwhile, Md Wasim, Samad’s brother and co-accused in Asfaq Khan’s murder, remains absconding. Police efforts to trace and arrest him are ongoing.
Notably, this is not the first high-profile encounter in the region. On April 13, notorious criminal Sitaram Sarangi (34) was arrested following an encounter near Rangiatikra village. A resident of Sargdihi village, Sarangi had over 25 cases related to dacoity, robbery, and attempt to murder across Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh districts.
