Keonjhar: An interstate robber wanted in more than 30 theft cases across Odisha's Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts was injured in an encounter with Champua police early on Monday after he allegedly opened fire on cops while attempting to escape.

The accused, identified as Mohammad Nafis, a resident of Jharkhand, is suspected to have been involved in a series of thefts in the two districts.

According to police, Nafis had been arrested earlier and was taken to the Patala forest near Champua at around 5 am to recover stolen property that he had allegedly hidden there after committing thefts in different locations.

During the recovery operation, the accused allegedly retrieved a country-made firearm that had been concealed in the forest and fired two rounds at the police team in an attempt to flee. Police said they retaliated in self-defence, during which Nafis sustained a bullet injury to his right knee.

He was initially admitted to the Champua Hospital and was later shifted to the Keonjhar District Headquarters Hospital for further treatment.

Police seized a country-made gun from his possession.

Police said further investigation is underway to identify Nafis' associates and uncover the interstate criminal network allegedly linked to the theft cases.