2 murder accused from Bihar held after encounter in Rishikesh

Dehradun: Two murder accused from Bihar were arrested in Rishikesh after a brief encounter with police in the early hours of Monday. The duo allegedly opened fire at police personnel after refusing to stop their motorcycle at a checking point. Police later found that the men were wanted in a robbery-cum-murder case in Bihar.

Amir, 22, from Muzaffarpur, and Anwarul Haque, 24, from Sitamarhi, were also wanted by Dehradun police in connection with a June 3 firing incident in Rishikesh, in which local residents were allegedly shot at after objecting to public drinking.

Dehradun SSP Pramendra Dobal said the two were riding a motorcycle without a registration plate and had covered their faces. "They were signalled to stop at a check post in the Dhalwala area, but rammed a barricade and fled," Dobal said.

During the chase, the suspects allegedly fired at police, with one bullet hitting a police vehicle. They later abandoned the motorcycle and ran into a nearby forest, where they again opened fire. Police retaliated, injuring both men in the leg. "Both were taken into custody and shifted to hospital for treatment," Dobal said.

The SSP said the accused revealed that they had fled Bihar after committing the robbery-cum-murder and had been hiding in Rishikesh. "A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS," he said.