Motihari/Patna (Bihar), March 17 Personnel from a special task force (STF) and two criminals were killed in an exchange of fire in the East Champaran district of Bihar on Tuesday, officials said.
The incident took place in the Chakia area in the early hours.
The deceased STF personnel was identified as Shriram Yadav, while the criminals were identified as Kundan Thakur and Priyanshu Kumar. Thakur was wanted in several cases under the Arms Act.
"Acting on a tip-off, a team comprising STF and district police personnel reached the Chakia area, where Thakur and his associates were hiding. Upon seeing the police personnel, the criminals opened fire and attempted to flee, and the police retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire. Shriram Yadav sustained gunshot wounds and later succumbed to his injuries during treatment," a police statement said.
Thakur and Kumar also sustained gunshot wounds and later succumbed to their injuries during treatment, it added, further stating that two of their associates, identified as Ujjawal Kumar Tiwari and Sant Kumar Tiwari, were arrested.
Police also seized a carbine, four pistols, and five cartridges from their possession.
In another incident, police arrested five criminals after a brief exchange of fire in the Pandarak area of Patna, officials said on Tuesday.
The arrested criminals, who were wanted in several cases, have been identified as Dheeraj Kumar, Vipin Kumar, Sudal Yadav, Sanjeev Kumar, and Sandheer Kumar.
The encounter took place late on Monday evening.
Acting on a tip-off that some criminals were planning to commit a crime in the Pandarak area, a team comprising STF and district police personnel laid a trap to apprehend them, but the criminals spotted the law enforcement officers and opened fire at them, to which the police retaliated, a police statement said.
All five criminals were later apprehended, and Dheeraj Kumar sustained gunshot wounds in his leg during the exchange of fire. He is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital, and his condition is reported to be stable, it said.
Police also seized two rifles, a revolver, and over 50 cartridges from their possession, and further investigation is underway, it added.