Sambalpur: A habitual offender allegedly involved in ganja smuggling and illegal firearms trade was injured in a police encounter in the Charmal area of Sambalpur district on Tuesday afternoon.

According to reports, acting on a tip-off about ganja being smuggled from Sonepur to Sambalpur through a forest route under Charmal police limits, a police team intercepted a vehicle at around 5:40 pm and signalled it to stop. However, the driver allegedly attempted to flee at high speed.

During the chase, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which overturned. He then reportedly stepped out and opened fire at the police using a pistol.

Police personnel warned him to surrender, but he allegedly continued firing, prompting the team to retaliate in self-defence. The accused sustained gunshot injuries in the controlled firing by police.

The injured has been identified as Bunty Suna, who is allegedly linked to ganja smugglers and involved in supplying ganja in exchange for firearms. He was also reportedly using forest and interior rural routes to evade police checks.

Suna was initially taken to Charmal Hospital and later referred to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research for further treatment.

During a search of the Tata Tiago he was driving, police recovered ganja along with a purse containing ATM cards, cash and a driving licence. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at Charmal Police Station.

Official sources said the investigation is ongoing. Preliminary verification indicates that Suna is involved in more than 16 criminal cases across Sambalpur and Bolangir districts.