Patna: An alleged extortion operation targeting boatmen on the Son River turned into an armed encounter between police and suspected criminals in the Parev area under Bihta police station on Sunday morning.
Police said one alleged criminal, Anish Kumar, was shot in the leg during the exchange, while two other suspects were arrested. Two criminals reportedly escaped by jumping into the river, triggering a search operation in the area.
Several police personnel were also injured. Bihta SHO Amit Kumar suffered a head injury, while Sub-Inspector Raju Kumar Singh sustained a gunshot injury. SI Singh is undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital, while Anish Kumar has been referred to PMCH.
62 rounds fired during encounter
Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma said police received information that a group of criminals was allegedly extorting money from boatmen operating on the Son River following a rise in the river’s water level.
After verifying the information, a police team led by SHO Amit Kumar was formed to take action. The suspects were spotted on a boat near a bridge and police attempted to intercept them.
According to the SSP, the suspects opened fire on the police, prompting retaliatory firing.
Police said approximately 40 rounds were fired by the criminals and 22 rounds by the police, taking the total number of rounds fired during the encounter to 62.
In the exchange of fire, Anish Kumar was shot in the leg. Another suspect, Piyush Kumar, was arrested near the boat, while two others reportedly escaped by jumping into the river.
Weapons recovered from scene
Police recovered several weapons following the encounter, including two pistols, a rifle, a carbine and a country-made pistol.
Authorities are now investigating the source of the weapons and whether they were used in previous criminal cases.
Patna West City SP Sanket Kumar also reached the spot after receiving information about the encounter and assessed the situation.
Anish among top 10 wanted criminals
According to police, Anish Kumar is among the top 10 wanted criminals and had been absconding in a case involving an AK-47 rifle.
The SSP said six criminal cases are registered against Anish Kumar. Police also claimed that an AK-47 had been recovered from his possession during a similar incident last year.
Search underway for escaped suspects
Police are questioning the arrested suspects to establish how long the alleged extortion operation had been active on the Son River and determine how many people were involved.
Following the encounter, surveillance has been intensified along the Son River and surrounding areas. Police teams are also searching for the suspects who escaped and investigating their possible links with other criminal activities.
The investigation is continuing, with police examining the recovered weapons, the alleged extortion network and the criminal backgrounds of those involved.
