ASI, cyberfraud injured in Muzaffarpur gunfight

Patna: A fierce gunfight took place between police personnel and criminals in Bela police station area of Muzaffarpur district on Tuesday, leaving an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and the main accused injured.The incident took place when a police team from Bela police station attempted to arrest a notorious cyberfraud, Pappu Sahni, based on intelligence input that he was hiding in the area. The son of Meenapur RJD block president Umashankar Sahni, Pappu has a history of committing multiple ATM fraud cases and he previously served jail term. He was long wanted by the police.Acting on the tip-off, as the police officers moved in to make the arrest, the suspect and his accomplices opened fire on the team in a bid to escape. Two bullets fired by the criminals hit ASI Vikas Kumar, who hails from Undha village in Siwan district and served as a munshi (clerk) in the Bela police station, in the stomach. He collapsed immediately.Upon seeing their colleague shot, the police team retaliated with return fire. The main accused, Pappu, was hit during the exchange and was subsequently apprehended in an injured state. The injured ASI was rushed to a private hospital in Muzaffarpur, where he is undergoing treatment.Senior officers, including Muzaffarpur range DIG Chandan Kushwaha and SSP Kantesh Kumar Mishra, rushed to the hospital to ensure proper treatment for the wounded policeman.The DIG said: “The main accused was injured in an exchange of gunfire. He was arrested and a pistol was seized from his possession. He is being interrogated by the police to uncover details about other members of his gang and know about any cyberfraud operation linked to him,” he said, adding that the condition of the ASI is stable.