Patna Police shoot robbery suspect in Operation Langda encounter, two arrested
Synopsis
Under Operation Langda, Patna Police shot alleged robbery kingpin Ajay Paswan — wanted in eight bank robberies and roughly 20 criminal cases — during an encounter in Masaurhi. The operation is the third strike in a fortnight against a gang accused of looting a ₹27 lakh CMS cash van at gunpoint on 13 May, signalling an intensifying Bihar Police crackdown on organised robbery networks.
Key Takeaways
Patna Police shot Ajay Paswan (alias 'Badal') in the leg during Operation Langda near Charma Mor, Masaurhi on Wednesday, 27 May .
A second accused, Ajay Yadav , was arrested during the same operation; a pistol, desi katta, and motorcycle were recovered.
Paswan is allegedly the mastermind behind the ₹27 lakh CMS company cash van robbery on 13 May under Gopalpur Police Station .
Police records cite approximately 20 criminal cases against Paswan, including eight bank robberies , extortion, and murder.
A prior encounter on 19 May had already injured another accused, Nitish Kumar , in the same case.
Investigation into the broader robbery network and additional accomplices is ongoing.
Patna Police shot an alleged robbery accused and arrested two individuals on Wednesday morning during Operation Langda, a targeted crackdown carried out in Masaurhi block near Charma Mor in Patna, Bihar. The operation is linked to a brazen ₹27 lakh cash van robbery reported on 13 May.
What Happened During the Encounter
According to officials, the injured accused has been identified as Ajay Paswan, also known as 'Badal', a resident of Darweshpur under the jurisdiction of Maner police station. Paswan sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the police action and was subsequently admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A second accused, Ajay Yadav, was arrested during the same operation without injury. Police recovered a pistol, a country-made firearm (desi katta), and a motorcycle from the encounter site.
The ₹27 Lakh Cash Van Robbery
Investigators stated that Ajay Paswan was allegedly the mastermind behind the robbery of a CMS company cash van on 13 May, under the jurisdiction of Gopalpur Police Station. In that incident, five armed criminals allegedly riding motorcycles intercepted the van and looted cash at gunpoint.
Police records indicate Paswan is wanted in several serious criminal cases, including eight bank robberies, extortion, and murder — with approximately 20 criminal cases registered against him. Officials said he had been absconding for an extended period and was being actively tracked by law enforcement.
Earlier Arrests in the Same Case
This is not the first encounter linked to the Gopalpur cash van robbery. On 19 May, police had injured another accused, Nitish Kumar, during a separate encounter connected to the same case, recovering looted cash, mobile phones, and weapons.
Prior to that, three other accused — Suraj Pandey, Aditya Kumar, and Ravi Kumar — had been arrested while investigating the robbery. According to officials, information obtained during their interrogation reportedly helped police trace Nitish Kumar and, subsequently, Ajay Paswan.
Wider Crackdown in Bihar
The Masaurhi operation follows a similar encounter a day earlier, when Khagaria Police and the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) arrested Buddin Mian during an encounter in Khagaria. He was reportedly wanted in more than 15 criminal cases, including murders, robberies, and rape.
Authorities confirmed that investigation into the broader robbery network and the possible involvement of additional accomplices remains ongoing.
Point of View
Each with suspects allegedly firing first, fits a template that Bihar Police has used before. The core investigative work — tracing Paswan through a chain of arrested accomplices — is credible police procedure. What remains unverified is the claim that accused 'opened fire first' in each instance, a standard justification that courts and human rights bodies have repeatedly flagged as difficult to corroborate after the fact. The ₹27 lakh recovery figure and the CMS van specifics lend factual grounding, but independent accountability for the encounter sequence will matter as the case moves toward trial.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Langda launched by Patna Police?
Operation Langda is a targeted police operation by Patna Police aimed at apprehending accused individuals linked to a ₹27 lakh cash van robbery on 13 May 2025 . The operation has resulted in multiple encounters and arrests across Masaurhi and connected locations in Patna district.
Who is Ajay Paswan and why was he being hunted?
Ajay Paswan , alias 'Badal', is a resident of Darweshpur under Maner police station, Patna. He is allegedly the mastermind behind the CMS company cash van robbery and is reportedly wanted in approximately 20 criminal cases , including eight bank robberies, extortion, and murder.
What was the CMS cash van robbery in Patna?
On 13 May 2025 , five armed criminals allegedly riding motorcycles intercepted a CMS company cash van under Gopalpur Police Station jurisdiction and looted ₹27 lakh at gunpoint. The robbery triggered Operation Langda and a series of subsequent police encounters.
How many people have been arrested in connection with the robbery so far?
At least five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case: Suraj Pandey , Aditya Kumar , Ravi Kumar , Nitish Kumar (injured in an encounter on 19 May), and Ajay Yadav (arrested on 27 May). Alleged mastermind Ajay Paswan was shot and hospitalised during the latest encounter.
What is the broader crime situation in Bihar that this case fits into?
Bihar has seen a series of high-profile police encounters in recent weeks. A day before the Masaurhi operation, Khagaria Police and the Bihar STF arrested Buddin Mian , reportedly wanted in more than 15 cases including murders and robberies, suggesting an intensified statewide crackdown on organised crime networks.
