Rourkela: Two members of People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a criminal outfit operating from neighbouring Jharkhand, were arrested after a gun-battle with police from Bisra area of Odisha's Sundargarh district today, police said.
The duo, identified as Jaidhar Gope (29) of Simdega and Santu Badaik (35) of Gumla in Jharkhand, were challenged by joint team of Bisra police and special squad near the Mashirkudar-Erla road under Bisra police station limit.
When the police party stopped them, both opened fire to which the police retaliated. After a brief encounter, police nabbed both of them as they got injured in the gun battle.
Soon they were shifted to hospital for treatment.
"We had prior information regarding movement of the two who were mostly indulging in extortion. Of the two, Gope is the Zonal Commander and has 55 cases against him, out of which 25 are murder in Jharkhand and in Odisha, he has got two cases. Similarly, Badaik has also over 15 cases against his name of heinous crimes," said R K Sharma, IG Rourkela.
Sharma further informed that the duo was trying to revive the almost-neutralised activities of the PLFI and were using the mid route of Nuagaon-Bisra for their movement and escapes.
Police have recovered a pistol with magazine and two rounds of live ammunition, seven mobile phones, Rs 5,350 in cash, one wrist watch and a two-wheeler.
The Jharkhand police will soon come to join for further investigation, police said.