Gayaji: A State Task Force (STF) team was attacked by villagers while attempting to arrest a wanted criminal in a village under the Magadh Medical police station area late Sunday night, leaving three personnel injured and briefly losing two service pistols that were later recovered, officials said.
The injured officers — Mani Kant Dubey, Santosh Chaubey and Neeraj Pandit — were admitted to Magadh Medical College Hospital. Pandit sustained an eye injury, while the other two suffered serious head wounds.
According to police, the STF team had reached Bhui Toli locality to apprehend Manoj Manjhi, a wanted suspect in a 2024 petrol pump murder case. Acting on intelligence that he had come to the village to drink alcohol, the team entered the area in plain clothes.
Sources said villagers mistakenly believed the police had arrived to conduct a prohibition raid. The misunderstanding allegedly triggered panic, and a crowd turned violent, chasing and beating the personnel with sticks. During the assault, two service pistols were snatched. Officers reportedly tried to disperse the mob by displaying their weapons, but the situation escalated further.
After the team managed to escape and alert senior officials, a large police contingent led by senior officers reached the spot. The area was cordoned off and a massive search operation continued past midnight. Both stolen pistols were eventually recovered from a roadside field.
Police detained seven suspects during the operation and seized items from several houses. Most men from the village reportedly fled after the incident, leaving only women behind, with many homes found locked.
Officials said those involved will face serious charges including attempt to murder, obstruction of official duty, and weapon theft. The main suspect and other attackers remain absconding, and raids are ongoing.
Police said the STF action was linked to the November 11, 2024 petrol pump shooting in which the nephew of a pump owner was killed after a dispute over fuel. Twelve accused were named in that case; ten have been jailed, two were arrested recently from Patna, and Manjhi remains on the run.
Security deployment in the area has been intensified as tension continues, and authorities say efforts are underway to arrest both the wanted suspect and those responsible for attacking the STF team.
