Bhubaneswar, May 21 (IANS) A dreaded criminal accused in the brutal public assault on a couple sustained bullet injuries during an exchange of fire late on Wednesday night while allegedly attempting to flee after snatching a police pistol, Niti Shekhar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Southern Range, said on Thursday.

Shekhar said that after the arrest of accused Mukesh Sahu, a police team was taking him to the hideout of one of his associates near Tamana Ghati when he allegedly snatched the pistol of an Assistant Sub-Inspector and attempted to escape after opening fire at police personnel.

The IGP said the police resorted to controlled firing in self-defence, during which Mukesh sustained bullet injuries to his foot.

He also warned of stringent action, as per the law, against anti-social elements involved in criminal activities.

It is worth noting that the Berhampur police on Wednesday arrested two accused, identified as Raj Malhotra and Lingaraj Samal alias Rinku, for their alleged involvement in the brutal assault on the couple on Giri Road in Berhampur on Monday night.

Police sources revealed that accused Raj Malhotra was present at the spot and assisted the main accused persons in carrying out the assault.

Meanwhile, Lingaraj Samal allegedly conspired with the other accused persons and also harboured them, police sources added.

As many as two cases each under various sections of the IPC and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) are pending against accused Malhotra and Samal at different police stations in Berhampur.

It is worth noting that a youth, identified as Umesh Rath, along with his fiancee, was standing near an eatery on Giri Road in Berhampur on Monday evening when some miscreants allegedly attacked and brutally assaulted him over past enmity.

His fiancee also sustained injuries while trying to save Umesh.

A video of the brutal assault soon went viral on social media, triggering widespread concern over the law-and-order situation in the state.

–IANS

gyan/pgh