Patna: Four alleged members of an inter-district dacoit gang have been arrested in a late-night joint operation by the Special Task Force and local police in Phulwarisharif, on the outskirts of Patna, after officers said the group attempted to run over policemen while trying to flee.
Police said the operation was launched on Friday night following a tip-off that armed men were moving through the area in a Scorpio vehicle and were planning a major crime. Acting on the intelligence, officers from the Special Task Force and Phulwarisharif Police Station set up a blockade near a petrol pump close to the Bihar Military Police (BMP) camp.
According to officials, the suspects were intercepted while refuelling the vehicle. When they spotted the police team, they allegedly tried to escape at speed, driving the Scorpio towards the officers in an apparent attempt to break through the cordon.
In the commotion, one policeman lost his balance and fell into a nearby drain, though he did not suffer serious injuries. Other officers quickly surrounded the vehicle and detained all four occupants within minutes.
Police identified one of the arrested men as Shahrukh, also known as Kundan Nath, a resident of Isapur. The identities of the other three were not immediately disclosed.
Officers said they recovered two pistols, four live cartridges, adhesive tape and other materials from the vehicle. The Scorpio used by the suspects has been seized.
Preliminary investigations suggest the group may have been preparing to carry out a major armed robbery, police said. Officials added that the gang has been active across at least 15 districts in Bihar and is linked to multiple cases of robbery, dacoity and other armed offences. Several criminal cases are reportedly registered against the suspects, and some of them have previously served prison terms.
STF officials described the gang as a long-standing challenge for law enforcement. Further raids are under way to trace the wider network and arrest other alleged associates who remain at large.
