Bihar Double Murder: Suspect Shot During Police Encounter; 4 Cops Injured

Patna: A weapon seizure operation turned into a violent shootout on Saturday morning when the prime accused in the Banka double murder case opened fire on investigators. The shootout left the main suspect with a gunshot wound to the leg and injured four police personnel.

Banka Police had recently tracked down and arrested the prime accused, Sachin Kumar Singh, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. They brought him back to Bihar on a transit remand to solve the July 5 broad-daylight killings of Gunjan Singh and Seetu Singh near Baliya village.

Weapon Recovery Turns Violent

During police interrogation, Sachin confessed to hiding the murder weapon in a forested area near Baliya village. Early Saturday morning, a police team escorted him to the location to retrieve the firearm.

The situation escalated rapidly at the site:

• The Attack: Sachin suddenly broke away from his escort, pulled a pistol hidden in the nearby bushes, and began firing directly at the officers.
• The Injuries: The gunfire and flying bullet fragments injured Mainma OP In-charge Ayans Ranjan, Sub-Inspector Mukesh Kumar, and two constables.
• The Retaliation: Acting in self-defense, the police team returned fire, shooting Sachin in the leg to overpower and re-arrest him.

Medical authorities initially rushed Sachin to Sadar Hospital in Banka before transferring him to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital (Mayaganj) in Bhagalpur for advanced treatment. The four injured police officers are also undergoing medical care.

Forensic Teams Scour the Scene

Following the encounter, teams from the Special Task Force (STF) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) rushed to the forest to collect spent cartridges and secure forensic evidence.

The double murder had previously sparked widespread outrage and raised serious concerns over law and order in Bihar. Police have already arrested another co-accused, Sonam Singh (alias Som Singh), from Begusarai district and sent him to judicial custody.

Official Statement from Banka SP

Banka Superintendent of Police Amitesh Kumar confirmed the encounter details:

“Our team had arrested Sachin Kumar Singh—the main shooter in the double murder case—from Ranchi based on technical inputs. While the weapon was being recovered, he attempted to escape police custody and opened lethal fire on the police team using a concealed weapon. Exercising the right to self-defence, the police returned fire, resulting in the accused sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg. Two of our police officers and two constables were also injured in the incident and are undergoing treatment. Further legal proceedings are underway.”