Sambalpur: Police shot and injured a notorious criminal with over 16 cases against him after he allegedly opened fire at a police party while attempting to smuggle ganja through a jungle route in the Charmal area in Sambalpur.
The accused, identified as Bunty Suna, is a habitual offender involved in multiple cases of firearms offences, robbery, and dacoity. Police sources said he was actively operating in the interstate ganja smuggling network along the Boudh–Sonepur route. He was allegedly supplying ganja to smugglers in exchange for firearms and frequently used secret forest paths and interior rural roads to evade police checks.
Acting on specific intelligence, a police team intercepted Bunty Suna’s suspected Tata Tiago vehicle near the Mochibahal forest road under Charmal Police Station limits this evening. Around 5:40 PM, when police signalled the vehicle to stop, the driver allegedly accelerated in an attempt to flee. The vehicle soon lost control and overturned.
According to police, Bunty Suna emerged from the overturned car and immediately opened fire at the police party with a pistol. Despite repeated warnings to surrender, he continued firing. In self-defence, the police team returned controlled fire, resulting in gunshot injuries to Bunty Suna.
He was immediately rushed to Charmal Hospital for initial treatment and later referred to VIMSAR (Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research) for further medical care.During the search of the vehicle, police recovered a quantity of ganja along with a purse containing ATM cards, cash, and a driving licence. The recovered contraband and items have been seized.
A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at Charmal Police Station, and further investigation is underway. Officials confirmed that Bunty Suna has a long criminal history with more than 16 cases registered in various police stations across Sambalpur and Bolangir districts.
This incident comes in the wake of a recent seizure of illegal firearms and ammunition by the Ainthapali Police Station, which led investigators to Bunty Suna’s involvement in the ganja-firearms nexus.
