Begusarai: A notorious criminal was shot dead in an encounter in Bihar’s Begusarai district on Friday night, hours after the state’s newly appointed ministers received their portfolios. The incident has sparked debate over whether the state is moving towards the “UP model” of policing, now that Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has taken charge of the Home Department — a portfolio held by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for nearly two decades.
Police said the Special Task Force, assisted by Begusarai district police, carried out the operation near Shaligram and Malhipur villages in the Sahebpur Kamal area. According to officials, the STF had received information that the wanted criminal Shivdutt Rai was in the area to procure weapons.
When police reached the spot, six men on two motorbikes allegedly opened fire. Officers returned fire in what they described as self-defence. Rai was shot in the thigh during the exchange and later died. The other suspects fled.
Police said that based on Rai’s initial statements, a cache of weapons, cash and cough syrup was recovered from a nearby house. Rai was reportedly facing several criminal cases.
The encounter comes at a time of administrative transition. Choudhary, who leads the BJP’s legislative party in the state, now oversees the Home Department — a key ministry Nitish Kumar has held since 2005 as part of his law-and-order reform strategy. This marks only the third time since Independence that the department has been assigned to someone other than the chief minister.
The reshuffle has intensified political chatter around whether Bihar will adopt a tougher policing strategy modelled on Uttar Pradesh under Yogi Adityanath. BJP supporters have welcomed Choudhary’s appointment as a sign of firmer action against organised crime.
But analysts say the real test will be how effectively the deputy chief minister works with the police and administrative machinery, and whether he maintains continuity with the systems established during CM Nitish’s long tenure.
