Berhampur: Two dreaded criminals, including a contract killer from outside the State were injured in a police encounter near Karnoli village in Aska of Ganjam district this morning.
The criminals were identified as Laxman Singh Rajput, a contract killer from Uttar Pradesh and wanted criminal Tuna Gouda of Kodala in Ganjam district.
The cops also seized two mousers and a motor-cycle from their possession. The two were later admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Sources said one Jitu Bisoi of Karnoli village had roped in Laxman Singh Rajput to kill a person over past enmity. While the duo was going on a motorcycle to kill him at 6 am, police, acting on a tipoff, chased them. The two opened fire at the cops while trying to escape near Karnoli village, following which the police retaliated.
Sources said contract killers are roped in from other States by anti-socials to settle scores. Two month ago, Babul Paswan, a dreaded criminal of Jharkhand, was arrested after an encounter by Bhanjanagar police.