Three criminals killed in Patna encounter; Maner SHO injured in exchange of fire
Synopsis
A pre-dawn joint operation by Bihar's STF and local police in Patna's Sherpur area ended with three wanted criminals dead and Maner SHO Rajnish Kumar grazed by a bullet. All three deceased were allegedly linked to the murder of a cooperative society president — a case that points to the persistent nexus of gang violence and rural financial institutions in central Bihar.
Key Takeaways
Three alleged criminals — J.P.
Yadav , Suraj Kumar alias Raja Sharma , and Bablu Kumar — were killed in a police encounter in Sherpur, Patna on 6 November at around 3 am .
Maner SHO Rajnish Kumar sustained a bullet graze wound to his arm during the exchange of fire.
Criminals allegedly fired 24 rounds ; police responded with 18 rounds .
Police recovered two pistols , one country-made firearm , and several empty cartridges from the site.
All three were wanted in the murder of Sanjit Kumar alias Bholu , president of the Vyapur PACS in Maner, among other cases.
Bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination ; investigation is ongoing.
Three alleged criminals were shot dead in an early-morning encounter with a joint team of the Special Task Force (STF) and local police in the Sherpur area along the Ganga River in Patna district, Bihar, on 6 November 2026. Maner Station House Officer (SHO) Rajnish Kumar sustained a bullet graze wound to his arm during the exchange of fire, which took place at around 3 am under the jurisdiction of Maner police station.
The Deceased and Their Alleged Criminal History
The three men killed have been identified as J.P. Yadav, Suraj Kumar alias Raja Sharma, and Bablu Kumar. According to police, all three carried criminal records and were wanted in connection with multiple cases, including murder. Danapur-2 Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) A.K. Jha said that Bablu Kumar and Suraj Kumar were the alleged shooters in the murder of Sanjit Kumar alias Bholu, president of the Vyapur Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) in Maner, while J.P. Yadav was identified as the main conspirator behind that killing.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K. Sharma, who reached the site after receiving information, said STF and district police units were conducting operations across different areas when they received intelligence that the three men had assembled at Sherpur and were allegedly planning a major crime. When the police team moved in, the accused allegedly opened fire first. According to police, the criminals fired 24 rounds and the police responded with 18 rounds before the exchange ceased. The entire gun battle reportedly lasted several rounds.
Injuries, Recoveries, and Immediate Response
After the firing stopped, officers found all three men lying injured at the site. They were rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead. SHO Rajnish Kumar's injury was described as a graze wound and was not life-threatening, according to available reports. Police recovered two pistols, one country-made firearm (desi katta), and several empty cartridges from the encounter site. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.
Investigation Under Way
Police said all three deceased were wanted in connection with the PACS president's murder as well as other criminal cases registered at multiple police stations across the region. Investigators are continuing to examine evidence recovered from the scene. This comes amid broader state-level efforts to crack down on organised crime networks operating along the Ganga belt in central Bihar — an area that has historically seen gang-related violence linked to local cooperative and land disputes.
Point of View
Police acting on intelligence, and a firefight ending in fatalities. While police account for the exchange as reactive, such operations in the Ganga belt warrant independent forensic scrutiny, especially when all fatalities are on one side. The link to a PACS president's murder is significant: cooperative societies in rural Bihar have long been flashpoints for gang-related extortion and political violence. That the alleged conspirator and shooters were all eliminated in a single operation raises questions about what investigative leads may have died with them.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the three criminals killed in the Patna encounter?
The three men killed were J.P. Yadav , Suraj Kumar alias Raja Sharma , and Bablu Kumar . According to police, all three were wanted in multiple criminal cases, including the murder of Sanjit Kumar alias Bholu, president of the Vyapur Primary Agricultural Credit Society in Maner, Patna.
Where and when did the Patna encounter take place?
The encounter took place at around 3 am on 6 November in the Sherpur area along the Ganga River, under the jurisdiction of Maner police station in Patna district, Bihar.
How was the police officer injured in the Patna encounter?
Maner SHO Rajnish Kumar sustained a bullet graze wound to his arm when the criminals allegedly opened fire on the approaching police team. The injury was not reported as life-threatening.
What weapons and evidence were recovered from the encounter site?
Police recovered two pistols , one country-made firearm (desi katta), and several empty cartridges from the site. According to police, the criminals fired 24 rounds while the police responded with 18 rounds during the exchange.
What was the alleged role of the three men in the PACS president's murder?
According to SDPO A.K. Jha , Bablu Kumar and Suraj Kumar were the alleged shooters in the murder of Sanjit Kumar alias Bholu , president of the Vyapur PACS in Maner, while J.P. Yadav was identified as the main conspirator behind the killing.
