In a dramatic turn of events, the Sambalpur Police arrested infamous criminal Sitaram Shadangi after a late-night encounter in the Rengiatikra area. Acting on credible intelligence, law enforcement officials engaged Shadangi in an operation that left him injured with a gunshot wound to his left leg.
Shadangi, a name synonymous with fear in the Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh districts, has over 25 criminal cases registered against him. His charges range from dacoity and robbery to looting and attempted murder. The apprehension of Shadangi is considered a significant achievement in the fight against organized crime in Western Odisha.
During the operation, police recovered ₹1 lakh in cash and a country-made pistol resembling a Desert Eagle from his possession. The recovery of such a high-powered weapon has raised concerns about potential connections to arms trafficking networks.
A senior police officer commented, “Sitaram Shadangi posed a grave threat to public safety. This encounter is a decisive step toward restoring law and order in the region.”
Shadangi is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Burla, while police investigations continue to uncover his criminal network and the source of his weaponry. The encounter has sent a strong warning to other criminal elements, reflecting the resolve of Odisha law enforcement to curb organized crime in the state.
