Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: An exchange of fire between the Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch and mining mafia broke out near LIC field in Khurda district on late Saturday night.

As per reports, a special team of STF raided the spot after getting information about the presence of a particular group involved in illegal mining and other anti-social activities.

The accused, who were reportedly inside a car, opened fire after spotting the STF team. One accused has been detained after STF team fired at the criminals in retaliation, sources said.

One key accused Sanjay Pradhan along with some of his associates, however, managed to escape after abandoning their car at the spot.

Briefing media on the encounter, SP of Crime Branch STF, Rahul PR said, “We have detained one person while two to three others managed to escape during a raid at a place in Khurda last night.”

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