Rourkela, Jun 20: In a major development in the investigation into the murder of Tofan Bindhani, two key accused were shot in the leg during a police encounter near Jhirpani in Odisha's Rourkela early Saturday, a source said.

The injured accused, identified as Chunu and Sushant, are alleged to have been involved in the daylight murder of Bindhani earlier this week. Both were admitted to Rourkela Government Hospital for treatment following the operation.

Exchange of Fire During Police Operation
According to the source, a special team tracked the movement of the accused and launched an operation in the Jhirpani area during the early hours of Saturday.

When officers attempted to intercept them, the accused allegedly opened fire at the police team, discharging four rounds, the source said. Police then returned fire, during which both accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs.

Firearms and ammunition were recovered from the spot, police said. A third suspect who was reportedly with the duo managed to flee during the operation.

Murder Triggered Massive Hunt
The encounter comes four days after Tofan Bindhani from Rameshwarpalli was hacked to death at the Sector-6 playground on June 16 in broad daylight.

The killing sparked outrage in the city and intensified pressure on law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible.

Police suspect that more than 10 individuals were involved in the murder. Chunu and Sushant are believed to be among the principal accused in the case.

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Special Teams Deployed Across Districts
Following the murder, Rourkela Police formed four special teams and launched an extensive search operation across multiple districts.

Police teams reportedly conducted raids in several locations, including parts of Ganjam and Bargarh districts, as they pursued suspects who had gone into hiding.

The operation eventually led investigators to the Jhirpani area, where Saturday's encounter took place.

Police said efforts are continuing to trace the remaining accused allegedly linked to the murder.

While the detention of two key accused marks a significant breakthrough, police said the investigation remains ongoing and that efforts are underway to establish the complete sequence of events leading to Bindhani's killing.