Transgender murder prime accused injured in police firing in Puri

Bhubaneswar: The prime accused in the recent murder of a transgender near Uttara was shot at and injured during an exchange of fire with police in Puri district’s Pipili on Wednesday evening.Krushna Kandi, 25, a resident of Gadarupasa in Puri district, sustained a bullet injury in his leg and was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.Police said Kandi — wanted in connection with the Feb 1 murder on NH-316 near Uttara in Puri district —attempted to flee on his motorcycle after spotting police near the Pipili-Puri bypass around 8 pm. When chased, he allegedly opened fire at police personnel. Police retaliated with controlled firing, injuring him in the left leg. No officers were hurt in the incident.“We have seized an illegal firearm from him. He is undergoing treatment and is out of danger. He will be arrested once discharged,” said Puri SP Prateek Singh. He said the accused is a habitual offender, previously booked in multiple snatching cases in Puri district.On Feb 1, Pipili police recovered the body of the 25-year-old transgender from an isolated stretch of NH-316. Investigation based on CCTV footage and phone records pointed to Kandi’s involvement. Police are probing whether others were also involved.Preliminary findings suggest Kandi encountered the victim alone on the highway in the evening and stabbed her multiple times following an altercation. “The exact cause of the provocation is under investigation,” said another officer. The deceased, a yoga teacher, resided in Bhubaneswar.