Bihar police encounter: Two sharpshooters shot, arrested near Patna's Bihta
Synopsis
A 2:30 am joint STF-police operation near Patna's Bihta ended with two alleged sharpshooters — wanted in murder and robbery cases across multiple districts — shot in the legs and arrested. The encounter is the latest flashpoint in Bihar's statewide 'Operation Langda' crackdown, where police deliberately target suspects' legs to immobilise rather than kill.
Key Takeaways
Awadhesh Saw (alias Videshiya) and Pappu Rai , both alleged sharpshooters, were shot in the legs and arrested near Anandpur embankment, Bihta, Patna on 13 May at around 2:30 am .
Both face multiple criminal cases including murder and robbery across several Bihar districts.
A joint team of the STF and local police acted on intelligence that the duo planned to execute a major crime in the Bihta area.
Police recovered a country-made pistol (desi katta) and a standard pistol from the scene; two police personnel sustained minor injuries.
The arrested pair are linked to the Anjani Singh murder case under Gaurichak police station limits; a third accomplice, Deepak Kumar , had already surrendered.
The operation is part of Bihar's ongoing statewide anti-crime drive, informally dubbed "Operation Langda" .
Two alleged sharpshooters were shot in the legs and arrested by a joint police team following an encounter near the Anandpur embankment under the Bihta police station jurisdiction in Patna, Bihar, in the early hours of Wednesday, 13 May. The exchange of fire erupted at approximately 2:30 am and resulted in the arrest of both suspects in an injured condition.
Who Was Arrested
The two arrested individuals have been identified as Awadhesh Saw, alias Videshiya, and Pappu Rai — both described by police as known sharpshooters with multiple criminal cases registered against them across several districts, including Patna. The cases reportedly include charges of murder and robbery. A third accomplice, Deepak Kumar, had already surrendered to police prior to the encounter.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma, the Special Task Force (STF) received intelligence inputs about the presence of the accused in the Bihta area and their alleged plan to execute a major crime. A joint team of the STF and local police subsequently launched a raid near Anandpur village, cordoned off the area, and asked the accused to surrender.
Point of View
It operates in a legal grey zone: encounters are inherently difficult to independently verify, and the pattern of suspects 'opening fire first' recurs with a consistency that invites scrutiny. The arrests of Awadhesh Saw and Pappu Rai may well be legitimate police work against dangerous criminals, but a statewide crackdown that routinely ends with suspects shot — however non-lethally — demands robust magisterial oversight and transparent post-encounter inquiry. Without that, even genuine successes risk being overshadowed by accountability deficits.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two criminals arrested in the Bihar encounter near Patna?
The two arrested individuals are Awadhesh Saw, alias Videshiya, and Pappu Rai, both described as known sharpshooters with multiple criminal cases — including murder and robbery — registered across several Bihar districts, including Patna.
Where and when did the Bihar encounter take place?
The encounter took place near the Anandpur embankment within the Bihta police station jurisdiction in Patna, Bihar, at approximately 2:30 am on 13 May 2025.
What is 'Operation Langda' in Bihar?
'Operation Langda' is an informal term for the Bihar Police's tactic of targeting suspects' legs during encounters to immobilise rather than kill them. It is part of the state's ongoing statewide crackdown against wanted criminals.
What weapons were recovered from the accused?
Police recovered a country-made pistol (desi katta) and a standard pistol from the spot following the encounter near Anandpur village in Bihta.
Were any police officers hurt in the encounter?
Yes, two police personnel sustained minor injuries during the exchange of fire. Both accused were shot in the legs and referred to AIIMS Patna for advanced treatment after initial care at the Bihta government hospital.
