Gopalganj encounter: Wanted criminal shot in both legs, country-made pistol seized
Synopsis
A ₹50,000-bounty criminal with over a dozen cases — including murder and extortion — allegedly turned a weapon-recovery operation into an ambush on the Thawe-Banjari bypass in Gopalganj. Police fired back, hitting him in both legs. An illegal country-made pistol was seized, and the accused is now under guard at a Patna hospital.
Key Takeaways
Akash Singh , a wanted criminal with a ₹50,000 bounty , was shot in both legs during a police encounter on the Thawe-Banjari bypass , Gopalganj .
Singh allegedly opened fire on police during a weapon-recovery operation and attempted to escape before being shot in self-defence.
He faces more than a dozen criminal cases including murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion, and Arms Act violations.
An illegal country-made pistol was recovered from the encounter site.
Singh was referred to Patna for advanced medical care after initial treatment at Sadar Hospital, Gopalganj .
The operation was led by Praveen Prabhakar and Vibha Kumari , with the District Intelligence Unit (DIU) also involved.
A wanted criminal with a ₹50,000 bounty on his head was shot in both legs during a police encounter on the Thawe-Banjari bypass in Gopalganj district of Bihar in the early hours of Saturday, 31 May 2025. The accused, identified as Akash Singh, a resident of Barhaihata village under the Thawe police station area, was subsequently taken into custody and hospitalised.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to police officials, a special team had arrested Akash Singh earlier based on specific intelligence inputs and was interrogating him at the Nagar Police Station. During questioning, he reportedly disclosed the location of a concealed weapon near the Thawe-Banjari bypass.
When officers escorted him to the site for weapon recovery in the early morning hours, Singh allegedly retrieved the hidden firearm, opened fire on police personnel, and attempted to flee under cover of darkness. The police team narrowly escaped injury. Officers fired in self-defence, with two bullets striking the accused in both legs, causing him to collapse at the scene.
The Accused's Criminal Record
Akash Singh faces more than a dozen registered criminal cases across the Thawe, Nagar, and Kuchaikot police stations. Charges against him include murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion, and violations of the Arms Act, according to police records. Among the pending cases is one involving alleged firing at a former village Mukhiya and extortion demands — a case that officials described as high-profile.
Medical Status and Recovery
The injured accused was rushed to Sadar Hospital, Gopalganj, where he received primary treatment. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, doctors referred him to Patna for advanced medical care. An illegal country-made pistol was recovered from the encounter site, police confirmed.
Operation Leadership and Next Steps
The operation was led by Nagar Police Station In-charge Praveen Prabhakar and Thawe Police Station In-charge Vibha Kumari, with personnel from the Nagar Police Station, Thawe Police Station, and the District Intelligence Unit (DIU) playing key roles. Police have initiated further legal proceedings and are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend other individuals allegedly linked to Singh's criminal network.
Point of View
Weapon-recovery escort, and an alleged mid-operation attack by the accused. While police accounts of such encounters are typically accepted at face value, the sequence — arrest, interrogation, disclosure, ambush — warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure procedural compliance. Singh's decade-long accumulation of cases across three police stations also raises questions about why prior custodial opportunities did not result in conviction. The involvement of the District Intelligence Unit signals that this was a pre-planned operation, not a chance confrontation.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Akash Singh, the accused in the Gopalganj encounter?
Akash Singh is a resident of Barhaihata village under the Thawe police station area in Gopalganj, Bihar. He is a wanted criminal with more than a dozen registered cases including murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion, and Arms Act violations, and carried a ₹50,000 bounty on his head.
What triggered the police encounter on the Thawe-Banjari bypass?
During interrogation, Akash Singh reportedly disclosed the location of a hidden weapon near the Thawe-Banjari bypass. When police escorted him there for recovery, he allegedly retrieved the firearm, opened fire on officers, and attempted to flee — prompting retaliatory fire.
What was recovered from the encounter site?
Police confirmed the recovery of an illegal country-made pistol from the scene of the encounter on the Thawe-Banjari bypass in Gopalganj.
Where is Akash Singh being treated?
Singh was initially treated at Sadar Hospital in Gopalganj for gunshot wounds to both legs. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was subsequently referred to Patna for advanced medical care.
Who led the police operation in Gopalganj?
The operation was led by Nagar Police Station In-charge Praveen Prabhakar and Thawe Police Station In-charge Vibha Kumari, supported by personnel from the Nagar and Thawe police stations and the District Intelligence Unit (DIU).
