Bhubaneswar, June 11 -- Notorious criminal Prafulla Mallik alias Pappu Mallik was injured in a police encounter in Odisha's Bhadrak district during the early hours of Thursday. The encounter took place in the Nuasahi forest near Bhadrak Law College under the jurisdiction of Bhadrak Rural Police Station.

According to reports, Pappu sustained a bullet injury to his right leg during an exchange of fire with the police. He was initially admitted to Bhadrak Hospital in a blood-soaked condition and was later shifted to Cuttack for further treatment. As many as 22 criminal cases are registered against him.

The encounter reportedly took place at around 3.30 a.m. Police received information that Pappu and one of his associates were hiding in the...