1 Dies, 3 injured in night long encounter with criminals

Khagaria, Aug 8 (UNI) A Special Task Force(STF) jawan was killed and three people, including two Bihar police constables, were seriously injured during a night long encounter with members of a notorious gang near Misharji Basha village.

Superintendent of Police Vinit Vinayak, who was leading the joint force of the district police and the STF, told UNI over phone from the spot today that the encounter with the Mohammad Zahid gang was still on.

''Several hundred rounds had already been fired by both sides and casualty, if any, on the criminals' side is not yet known,'' he said.

He said acting on a tip off that the gang had assembled in the flood hit area under Beldaur police station for a major operation, a joint team immediately left for the spot after midnight to nab the gang members, wanted in connection with several cases of murder, robbery and extortions.

But as soon as the police boats reached the village, the criminals fired indiscriminately, killing jawan Mohammad Azimuddin on the spot and injuring one of the boatmen.

The police party retaliated and a fierce encounter ensued. Later three others, including two Bihar armed police constables, also sustained bullet injuries. They were sent to the local hospital before being shifted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

Incidentally, Md.Zahid had unleashed a reign of terror in the entire Khagaria district and was also wanted on charges of murdering Saharsa Deputy SP Satyapal Singh last year.

UNI