Berhampur, May 21: Berhampur was gripped by high drama late Wednesday night when notorious criminal Mufates Sahu, alias Mukesh, sustained serious injuries during a fierce gun battle with police near Tamana Ghati.

The incident followed days of intense manhunt after Sahu brutally attacked a youth named Umesh Rath on Giri Road on May 18. According to reports, Sahu is currently undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

According to police, Sahu is a hardened offender with more than nine serious criminal cases registered against him, including attempted murder, extortion, robbery, and illegal arms trade across multiple police stations such as Baidyanathpur, Gopalpur, and Gosani Nuagaon. After the Giriroad assault, he had gone into hiding, evading capture until Wednesday night.

Police sources revealed that Sahu attempted to flee through Tamana Ghati when officers intercepted him. In the ensuing confrontation, four rounds of bullets struck him. His two associates, Raj Malhotra and Lingaraj Samal, had already been arrested earlier and produced in court.
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The Giri Road attack itself shocked the city. Around 9 pm on May 18, Umesh Rath was suddenly assaulted in the middle of a busy road by Sahu and his accomplices. They dragged him down and beat him mercilessly with sticks and rods, ignoring pleas from bystanders.

A young woman accompanying Umesh displayed remarkable courage, trying desperately to shield him and calling for help. Her bravery, however, could not stop the attackers, whose brutality was captured on mobile phones and later went viral on social media.

The chilling footage sparked outrage across Berhampur, highlighting the brazenness of local gangs. Police intensified their crackdown, leading to Wednesday’s encounter.

Officials described Sahu as a “professional criminal” whose activities had long terrorized the region.