Kishanganj/Patna: Two police personnel were injured and a suspected criminal sustained a gunshot wound during an exchange of fire between police and an alleged bike theft gang in Kishanganj district, officials said.
The incident took place near Chauhan Basti close to the Farigola railway crossing under the Sadar police station area.
Police identified the injured accused as Pawan Kumar, also known as Chintu, a resident of Rautara in Katihar district. He suffered a bullet injury to his leg during the encounter.
Police team injured during operation
Sadar police station sub-inspector Nitish Kumar was seriously injured during the operation, while inspector Mushtaq Alam, who is serving as DIO in-charge, sustained minor injuries.
District Magistrate Vishal Raj and Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar reached the spot along with senior police officials after receiving information about the incident. SDPO Khushroo Siraj also visited the site.
The injured officers were later shifted to the sadar hospital for treatment.
Weapons and motorcycle recovered
Police said a motorcycle, a pistol and an empty cartridge allegedly fired by the accused were recovered from the spot.
According to officials, police had received information that members of a bike theft gang had gathered in the area and were allegedly planning a major crime. After technical surveillance and verification, a police team was sent to the location.
Officials said the suspects attempted to flee after noticing the police team, following which firing took place between the accused and police personnel.
Police term firing ‘self-defence’
Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar said the accused opened fire on the police team during the operation.
“The police acted in self-defence. Two police personnel were injured and one accused was injured in the retaliatory firing,” he said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Series of recent police encounters in Bihar
The Kishanganj incident comes amid a series of recent police encounters reported across Bihar.
On Wednesday, police in Samastipur shot an accused identified as Prince, who was allegedly involved in CSP robbery and snatching cases in Ujiarpur, Sarairanjan and Kalyanpur police station areas.
Earlier this week in Patna, police shot alleged criminal Nitish Kumar in the leg during an encounter linked to a Rs.27 lakh cash van robbery case. Three of his associates were also arrested.
On Monday, police in Patna’s Transport Nagar area injured another accused, identified as Sandeep alias Badal, during an operation related to a robbery and shooting case involving a school teacher. Police also reported an encounter with a jewellery robbery suspect in Siwan district the same day.
