Begusarai encounter: Just a day after BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was appointed as Bihar’s Home Minister, the state police campaign against criminals in Begusarai has intensified. Following a recent encounter in Teghra, a joint operation by the district police and the Special Task Force struck again on Friday night between Malhipur and Saligrami villages under Sahebpur Kamal jurisdiction. In that clash, notorious gangster Shivdutt Rai was seriously injured and has been hospitalised. The swift action signals a renewed tough-on-crime posture, although senior officials are yet to issue a full statement on the incident.
Begusarai encounter
According to reports, on late Thursday night, the STF received a tip-off that Shivdutt Rai, a notorious and absconding criminal from the Teghra police station area, was about to reach the Malhipur area to buy weapons. Upon receiving the information, the STF team, along with the local police, began a search operation and cordoned off the area. As soon as the police reached near Saligram village, about six criminals riding on two bikes suddenly started firing indiscriminately at the police. The police retaliated in self-defense. During this, a bullet hit Shivdutt Rai’s thigh and he fell to the ground. Taking advantage of the opportunity, his five other accomplices escaped in the dark.
House raided
Based on the interrogation of the injured Rai, police raided a house in the area. Nine pistols, a large quantity of cough syrup, cash, and other illegal items were recovered during the raid. Reportedly, the criminals fired six to seven rounds, while the police fired three rounds in self-defense.
