BERHAMPUR: Danda Moharana, a wanted criminal and a close aide of former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena, was injured in an encounter with police on Thursday. He was later arrested. The exchange of fire took place near Tamana Ghat under Chikiti police limits.
Moharana received bullet injures in his left leg during the encounter. He was admitted to MKCG Medical here and later shifted to SCB Medical, Cuttack.At least 23 criminal cases, including robbery, dacoity, attempt to murder, extortion, firing and bombing are pending against him in different police stations in the district.
Chikiti police station SDPO Prakash Chandra Jena said on a tip off that Moharana was hiding in Chikiti and was supposed to leave the State on Friday, police sealed all exit points of the area.
At around 6.15 am, Moharana and his associate were proceeding towards Berhampur from Chikiti through Tamana Ghat on a motorcycle when a five-member police team tried to intercept them near Madhuri village. Moharana opened three rounds of fire at the police. The cops retaliated with two rounds of fire and one bullet hit Moharana’s left knee. After he fell down, his accomplice managed to escape into the forest. The motorcycle, a revolver and three empty cartridges were seized from Moharana. Two police officers of Berhampur Town police station, Sub-Inspector Kausik Majhi and ASI Dilip Das, also sustained minor injuries in the exchange of fire, the SDPO added. After Jena’s arrest, Moharana had gone into hiding.
Fresh Case Against Jena
Sadar Police on Thursday slapped a new land grabbing case against Ramesh Jena and three others.
According to a complaint lodged by Gopinath Sahu of Nimakhandi, Ramesh, along with his father Arakhita, corporator R Murali and realtor Buna Sahu, forcibly took away his 2.87 acres of land and converted it into housing plots. Though the plots were sold, the money was not given to Sahu. When Sahu asked for money, he was threatened with dire consequences.
Meanwhile, the SDJM Court has allowed Mahila Police here to take Ramesh on one-day remand for interrogating him in connection with a rape case.