A notorious criminal was shot and injured during an exchange of fire with police on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in the early hours of Wednesday, adding to the series of non-fatal encounters across Odisha. Papun Majhi (31), who has 20 heinous cases registered against him, sustained a bullet wound near his right knee during the police operation in the Info Valley area around 2:30 am.
Operation Details
Acting on a tip-off that Majhi was planning to peddle brown sugar in Info Valley and Jatni, a special crime unit (SCU) raided the area. When confronted, Majhi attempted to flee and opened fire on the police. Commissioner of Police S Dev Datta Singh stated, "Our personnel resorted to controlled retaliatory firing, leading to Majhi's injury. Around 25 grams of brown sugar, a 7.65 mm semi-automatic pistol, and three bullets were seized from him." No police personnel were injured during the operation.
Medical Treatment and Criminal Record
Majhi was first taken to Capital Hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. "His condition is stable. He will be arrested following his discharge from hospital," the police commissioner said. Majhi's criminal record dates back to 2012, with cases involving bombing, dacoity, and illegal arms possession. "We will continue to give a befitting reply to criminals who attempt violent crimes and endanger others," the commissioner asserted.
Rising Number of Encounters
This incident is the eighth non-fatal encounter in Odisha this month and the 11th in 2026, reflecting what critics describe as a 'trigger-happy' approach by the state police in the wake of public outrage over the recent Balianta lynching and Berhampur street violence. Human rights activists and legal experts have condemned the surge in encounters as stage-managed and extrajudicial.
Concerns Raised by Activists
Activist Pramod Rath questioned the pattern, saying, "How is it that every encounter looks identical and invariably takes place late at night? In each case, suspects end up with bullet wounds to their legs, while not a single police officer is injured. We do not defend criminals or oppose lawful action, but such patterns raise serious doubts. Inquiries should be conducted into every encounter to verify their authenticity."
