Gold robbery accused shot in both legs during Bihar police encounter in Siwan
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A suspected gold robber was shot and arrested following a brief exchange of fire with police near Bedoli Mor in the Mairwa area of Siwan district, Bihar, on 18 May. The accused, identified as Ankit Kumar Singh (26), is allegedly linked to a jewellery shop heist in which gold worth approximately ₹20 lakh was looted on 6 May.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Ankit Kumar Singh, a resident of Chandpur Ghurghat under the Siswan police station limits and son of Srinivas Singh, was reportedly travelling toward Mairwa block when he spotted the police team and allegedly opened fire. Officers retaliated, and bullets struck the accused in both knees, causing him to collapse at the scene. He was immediately taken into custody.
According to Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha, the operation was intelligence-driven. 'We received information that an accused involved in the gold robbery case was heading toward Mairwa in Siwan. The police team was alerted, and during the operation near Bedoli, the accused opened fire. In retaliatory action, he was injured and has been admitted to a hospital,' Jha stated.
The Jewellery Shop Robbery
The encounter stems from a robbery that occurred on 6 May at a jewellery shop in Jamapur Market under the Jiradei police station jurisdiction in Siwan. According to police, gold ornaments worth roughly ₹20 lakh were looted in the incident. Singh is among the suspects identified in the course of the subsequent investigation.
Medical Condition and Transfer
Following his arrest, Singh was first taken to Sadar Hospital for primary treatment. Given the severity of his injuries — police sources confirmed that bullets had passed through both knees — doctors referred him to Patna for specialised medical care. His condition is reported to be critical.
Further Investigation Under Way
Police have launched raids across the region to track down other suspects believed to be involved in the 6 May jewellery shop robbery. Authorities have not disclosed how many individuals are still at large. This encounter is the latest in a series of police operations in Bihar targeting organised robbery networks operating across district boundaries.