Notorious criminal Buddhia Das, a close associate of gangster Tito, was apprehended following an encounter with police at Sector 13 in CDA area of Cuttack city late on Tuesday night.
Reports said that based on specific inputs about Buddhia’s presence in the area, the Chauliaganj police and the Special Squad conducted a raid in CDA to nab him, who was one of the most wanted criminals.
Spotting the police, Buddhia had opened fire at them in a bid to escape from the spot.
In retaliation, the police team fired back in self-defence. Buddhia was hit by a bullet in his right leg and was injured. He was subsequently overpowered and nabbed.
During the gunfight, the Chaliaganj police station IIC had a close shave as a bullet missed him by a whisker, but another police personnel, Biswajit Mohanty, was wounded.
Later, Buddhia was taken to the SCB Medical College Hospital here for treatment.
The cops seized a pistol and two rounds of bullet from the spot.
Police sources said that Buddhia was a close associate of gangster Tito and was wanted in as many as more than 30 criminal cases including murder, attempt to murder, extortion in various police stations of Cuttack city and Kendrapada district.
After Tito was earlier arrested by the Special Task Force (STF), Buddhia used to operate his network.