Major breakthrough in Chandan Mishra murder case: Two criminals injured in STF encounter

National News: An encounter broke out early Tuesday morning between the Patna Special Task Force (STF) and a group of criminals near Kateya village in Bihar’s Bhojpur district. The incident took place around 5 a.m. in the jurisdiction of the Bihiya police station. Acting on a tip-off, police teams surrounded the suspects and asked them to surrender.

Criminals Opened Fire, Police Retaliated

Instead of surrendering, the criminals started firing at the police. In response, the STF and local police retaliated. During the exchange of gunfire, two criminals were injured. The third accused was caught without any injuries. The entire operation was swift and carefully planned.

Identities of the Arrested Accused

The two injured have been identified as Balwant Singh, a resident of Liladharpur village under Chakki police station in Buxar district, and Ravi Ranjan Singh, from Chakrahi village under Bihiya police station area. The third arrested person is Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Parsia village, also under Chakki police station in Buxar.

Injuries and Medical Treatment

Both injured criminals were taken to Sadar Hospital, Ara, for medical treatment. Balwant Singh was shot in both legs and hands, while Ravi Ranjan was hit near his left thigh. Doctors have confirmed that both are out of danger but are under police custody. X-rays and other tests are being conducted.

Connection to Chandan Mishra Murder Case

All three accused were wanted in the high-profile murder case of gangster Chandan Mishra, which took place at Paras Hospital in Patna. Their arrest is a major breakthrough in the investigation. During initial questioning, they admitted to their involvement in the crime and revealed the names of other accomplices.

Weapons Recovered from the Spot

After the encounter, police conducted a search and recovered a total of three firearms—two regular pistols and one country-made weapon. They also seized two magazines and four live cartridges from the accused.

SP’s Statement on the Operation

Superintendent of Police Raj stated that the operation was launched on the basis of credible intelligence inputs. The STF and Bihiya police worked together to corner the suspects. He confirmed that the criminals had been under surveillance for several days due to their suspected role in the Patna murder case.

Further Investigation Underway

The police have increased patrolling in the nearby areas to prevent the escape or hiding of other gang members. The arrested criminals are likely to be taken into remand for detailed interrogation. More arrests may follow based on the leads provided during questioning.