Patna: Tension erupted outside Danapur Subdivisional Hospital in Bihar’s Patna district on Friday after a clash broke out between police personnel and family members of three alleged criminals killed in an encounter. Police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control. Heavy police deployment was subsequently made outside the hospital to prevent further escalation.
RJD MP Misa Bharti also reached the hospital following the incident and interacted with the family members of the deceased. The encounter took place early Friday near the Ganga river in Sherpur, under Maner police station limits, during a joint operation by the Patna Special Task Force (STF) and district police. Three alleged criminals were killed in an exchange of fire, while Maner Station House Officer (SHO) Rajnish Kumar sustained a bullet injury to his left hand.
Police Claim Suspects Opened Fire
Patna SSP Kartik Kumar Sharma said police had received intelligence that three suspects with criminal backgrounds were allegedly planning a major crime in Sherpur. Acting on the information, a joint team of STF and district police reached the area.
According to the SSP, the suspects opened indiscriminate fire upon seeing the police team, prompting personnel to retaliate. During the exchange, a bullet grazed the Maner SHO and passed through his uniform. Other police personnel were also targeted. After the firing stopped, police found three suspects injured at the spot and rushed them to hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Weapons Recovered, 18 Rounds Fired by Police
Sharma said the deceased had previous criminal records and were allegedly involved in a murder committed in Maner on Ashtami. They were also wanted in several criminal cases registered in areas including Danapur and Shahpur.
Police recovered two pistols, one country-made firearm and several empty cartridges from the encounter site. The SSP said police fired 18 rounds during the exchange, while the suspects fired more than 24 rounds. Further investigation is underway. The post-mortem examinations of the deceased will be conducted with videography, the SSP said.
