Patna: Ravish alias Basiya, the prime accused in the kidnapping and murder of Patna resident Bunti Yadav and a history-sheeter with multiple criminal cases against him, was injured in a police encounter in the early hours of Thursday after allegedly opening fire on a police team in Bihar’s capital.
The encounter took place around 3 am on a dirt road leading from the L&T area towards Bans Ghat under the Budha Colony police station limits. According to police, they had received intelligence that Ravish was returning to Patna and laid a trap to intercept him.
As the police team reached the spot, Ravish allegedly fired at the officers. One bullet struck the bonnet of a government vehicle belonging to Kotwali Police Station. The Station House Officer (SHO) and other personnel inside the vehicle escaped unhurt.
Police said they retaliated in self-defence, during which Ravish sustained a bullet injury to his right leg. He was taken into custody and admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for treatment.
Police Recover Weapon from Encounter Site
Following the encounter, police recovered a country-made pistol and a pair of slippers believed to belong to the accused from the spot. A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was called to collect scientific evidence, and the recovered firearm will undergo forensic examination.
Senior police officers, including Law and Order ASP Krishna Murari Prasad, along with teams from the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), Special Investigation Unit (SIU), and Kotwali Police Station, were present during the operation. Police said the entire sequence of events is under investigation.
Accused Was Absconding After Bunti Yadav’s Murder
According to investigators, Ravish had been on the run since the kidnapping and murder of Bunti Yadav. Police had been conducting raids at multiple locations in an effort to arrest him before receiving information about his return to Patna.
Officials said two rounds of firing were exchanged during the encounter.
Long Criminal History
Police records show that Ravish alias Basiya has several criminal cases registered against him across multiple police stations in Patna. These include charges of murder, attempted murder, extortion, assault, criminal intimidation, liquor smuggling, and offences under the Excise Act.
He was previously jailed in connection with a murder case registered at Kankarbagh Police Station in 2020 and has also faced cases related to attempted murder, threats, illegal liquor trade, and alcohol-related offences.
Background of the Bunti Yadav Murder Case
Bunti Yadav was allegedly abducted near Tata Park, close to Patna Junction, on July 6. Five days later, on July 11, his body was recovered from Athmalgola, around 60 kilometres from Patna.
According to the post-mortem examination, Bunti was brutally beaten to death. Doctors found no evidence of gunshot injuries. The report stated that heavy objects such as bricks or stones were used in the assault, causing extensive injuries to his face and body.
Investigators said the victim’s face had been badly disfigured, and a tattoo on his right hand had reportedly been deliberately damaged, making identification difficult. Family members ultimately identified him through a bracelet on his wrist.
So far, police have arrested five accused in the case, including Rohit, Bajrangi, and auto-rickshaw driver Ravi alias Chandu.
Police and Family Differ on Motive
Police have maintained that the murder was not linked to an alleged sex racket, rejecting speculation surrounding the motive.
However, Bunti Yadav’s family has claimed the murder stemmed from a dispute that began around two weeks before the abduction. According to the family, Bunti had objected to an alleged robbery by a group of transgender persons in the locality and had also opposed an alleged sex racket operating in the area.
The family alleges that Ravish and his associates threatened Bunti following the dispute, later abducted him, and murdered him. Police continue to investigate the case and have not officially confirmed the family’s version of events.
