Motihari: A late-night encounter between the Special Task Force (STF) and an alleged criminal gang in Bihar’s Motihari district left one STF jawan dead and two suspected criminals killed, in an incident that investigators say bore striking similarities to the 2020 Bikru case involving gangster Vikas Dubey in Uttar Pradesh.
The encounter took place in the early hours of Monday in Sihorwa village under Chakia police station limits, about 60 km from the district headquarters. Police said the main accused, Kundan Thakur, and his associate Priyanshu were killed in retaliatory firing after they allegedly opened fire on the police team. STF constable Shriram Yadav was martyred in the exchange.
According to officials, the incident began with a phone call. Kundan Thakur allegedly contacted the assistant station house officer of Chakia police station and issued an open challenge, asking police to confront him within half an hour. Investigators believe the call was part of a pre-planned trap designed to lure the police into an ambush.
Police later received intelligence that Thakur was hiding at the residence of Sant Tiwari in Sihorwa village. Acting on the tip-off, a team comprising around 20 to 30 personnel from the STF, District Intelligence Unit (DIU), and Chakia police reached the location at around 2.30 am.
STF constable Shriram Yadav reportedly rang the doorbell to gain entry. As soon as the gate opened, the power supply was cut and the area was plunged into darkness. Before the police team could enter the house, shots were fired from inside using a carbine.
The sudden burst of gunfire caught the police team off guard. During the attack, Shriram Yadav was hit by the first bullet in the chest and a second in the waist. Despite his injuries, he returned fire along with other personnel. In the ensuing exchange that lasted around 15 minutes, Kundan Thakur and Priyanshu were shot dead.
Police later recovered a carbine, a pistol, and several empty cartridges from the spot.
Investigators say the strategy used by the accused closely resembled the pattern seen in the Bikru incident of 2020, when gangster Vikas Dubey ambushed a police team in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district after luring them to his village. In that case, Dubey’s gang opened fire from rooftops, leading to the death of eight police personnel.
Officials said that in the Motihari encounter, the accused fired from inside the house rather than from the rooftop. Police believe that if the attackers had taken positions on the roof, the casualties could have been higher.
A search operation was launched in the area after the encounter to ensure that no other suspects were hiding nearby. Police arrested Sant Tiwari and his son from the house where the accused had taken shelter. In total, five people have been arrested so far in connection with the case.
The house where the encounter took place now bears visible signs of the gun battle. Bullet marks can be seen on the walls, window panes are shattered, and blood stains remain on the floor. Police have sealed the premises as part of the investigation.
Residents of Sihorwa village said the sound of continuous gunfire late at night created panic in the area. Many villagers said they stayed indoors out of fear as the firing continued.
Investigators are now trying to determine how Kundan Thakur obtained a carbine and who supplied the weapons and ammunition. Police are also probing whether he had support from a larger criminal network and who may have been backing the alleged plot.
The STF, Motihari police, and local authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident and the broader network linked to the accused.
