Patna Police Encounter: 3 Criminals Dead, SHO Injured in Fierce Gunfight
Three criminals were killed and an SHO injured during a fierce gunfight between the Patna STF and suspects in Bihar's Sherpur area.
A high-stakes operation by the Patna Police and the Special Task Force (STF) turned violent early Friday morning, resulting in a Patna police encounter that left three alleged criminals dead and a senior police officer wounded. The clash took place in the Sherpur area, near the banks of the River Ganga, falling under the jurisdiction of the Maner police station in Patna district.
The Ambush in Sherpur
The operation was part of a broader crime prevention drive. According to Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartik Kumar Sharma, security forces had received intelligence that a group of criminals with extensive priors had gathered in Sherpur to orchestrate a "major incident."
As the joint team of the STF and district police closed in on the location, the suspects initiated a rapid and aggressive assault. The gunfire was intense, with the criminals reportedly firing more than 24 rounds at the police personnel.
Officer Wounded in Retaliation
During the chaos, Maner Station House Officer (SHO) Rajnish Kumar and his team stepped out of their vehicles to return fire. In the exchange, a bullet grazed the SHO's left hand, passing through his uniform. The injured officer was immediately shifted to Patna for medical treatment.
The police retaliated with 18 rounds of ammunition. Once the firing ceased, officers discovered three individuals lying injured on the ground. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals declared all three dead.
Criminal Background and Recoveries
The SSP revealed that the deceased suspects were not petty offenders but were wanted in several serious cases across Danapur and Shahpur. Most notably, they were the primary suspects in a murder that occurred in Maner on the day of Ashtami.
Upon searching the encounter site, the police recovered a cache of weapons, including:
- Two pistols
- One country-made firearm
- Several empty cartridges
To ensure transparency, the police have announced that the post-mortem examinations of the three deceased will be conducted under videography.
Separate Incident in Darbhanga
In a separate and unrelated incident in the Darbhanga district, another police officer was injured. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Randhir Kumar of the Sakatpur Police Station was hit by a bullet near his knee while conducting a daytime patrol near an orchard.
Accompanying officers reported hearing a single gunshot before the ASI collapsed. He was transported to the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). Authorities have stated that his condition is stable and not life-threatening. Investigations into the Darbhanga shooting are currently ongoing.