UditVani, Jamshedpur : A late-night police operation turned into a dramatic shootout on Thursday as three hardened criminals linked to the sensational kidnapping of industrialist Kairav Gandhi were injured in an encounter near the Sai Temple in the Sonari police station area, sending shockwaves across the city.
The injured accused have been identified as Guddu Singh, Mohammad Imran and Ramiz Raja, all residents of Bihar and known for their involvement in kidnapping, extortion and other serious crimes.
The trio was wounded during police retaliatory firing after they allegedly opened fire on the police team.
Encounter Triggered During Arms Recovery
Police sources revealed that during interrogation in the Kairav Gandhi kidnapping case, the accused disclosed that they had hidden firearms in bushes near the Sonari Sai Temple before fleeing the city.
Acting swiftly on this crucial lead, a police team escorted the accused to the spot late Thursday night to recover the weapons.
However, the recovery operation took a dangerous turn when Guddu Singh allegedly snatched a carbine from the bodyguard of Bistupur Police Station In-charge Alok Dubey and began firing at the police team. The sudden attack created panic at the scene, though the station in-charge narrowly escaped unhurt.
Swift Retaliation Averts Major Tragedy
Sensing imminent danger, the police responded in self-defence, firing around five rounds.
All three accused were hit by bullets and collapsed at the spot. The area was immediately cordoned off and brought under control.
Weapons Seized, Forensic Probe Ordered
Police recovered several empty cartridges, three pistols and other firearms concealed in the bushes. The seized weapons have been sent for forensic analysis to determine their linkage to earlier criminal incidents.
Tight Security at Hospital
The injured accused were rushed to MGM Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment under heavy police guard. Additional forces have been deployed to ensure security in the hospital premises.
Wider Criminal Network Under Investigation
Senior police officials confirmed that the trio had been on the police radar for a long time and were wanted in multiple cases of kidnapping and extortion.
Investigators are now tracing their interstate criminal network spanning Jharkhand and Bihar, with officials indicating that further major revelations are likely in the coming days.
