Three Criminals Killed in Police Encounter in Patna; Maner SHO Injured

Patna woke up to the news that a three‑man gun battle had erupted just before dawn in the Sherpur area, right along the banks of the Ganga. A Special Task Force unit, together with officers from the Maner police station, moved in after receiving a tip that three wanted men were gathering for a serious crime.

When the squad reached the spot at about 3 a.m., the suspects – identified by the police as J.P. Yadav, Suraj Kumar (also known as Raja Sharma) and Bablu Kumar – opened fire. The ensuing exchange was brief but fierce: the criminals let off roughly 24 rounds, while the police responded with 18.

During the scuffle, a stray bullet grazed the arm of Maner Station House Officer Rajnish Kumar. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but the wound was not life‑threatening.

Both sides eventually ran out of ammunition. The three suspects were found lying on the ground, badly wounded, and were rushed to the district hospital. Doctors declared them dead on arrival. A post‑mortem will now be conducted.

Police recovered two pistols, a locally‑made rifle – often called a “desi katta” – and several empty cartridges from the scene. According to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kartikeya K. Sharma, the men had a long criminal record and were wanted in multiple cases, including murder.

Further details emerged from Danapur‑2 Sub‑Divisional Police Officer A.K. Jha, who said the trio was allegedly linked to the killing of Sanjit Kumar (alias Bholu), the president of the Vyapur Primary Agricultural Credit Society in Maner. Bablu Kumar and Suraj Kumar were thought to have pulled the trigger, while J.P. Yadav was said to be the mastermind.

The encounter is still under investigation as officers sift through the seized weapons and ammunition, trying to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to this fatal showdown.