Patna, July 3 (IANS) The prime accused in a recent Customer Service Point (CSP) robbery case was arrested after an encounter with police late on Thursday night near an orchard in Revasi village, under the Riga police station limits of Bihar’s Sitamarhi district.

The accused, Phekan Kumar, allegedly opened fire on the police team while attempting to evade arrest.

In retaliatory firing by the police, he sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was taken into custody.

He was initially admitted to Sadar Hospital, where he received first aid before being referred to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), Muzaffarpur, for further treatment.

Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police, Amit Ranjan, said the encounter took place when police attempted to intercept the accused during a search operation.

Phekan Kumar and his associates allegedly fired three rounds at the police team, with one bullet striking a police vehicle.

The police responded in self-defence by firing two rounds, one of which hit the accused.

Police said the accused is the prime suspect in the Rs 1.5 lakh robbery from a Central Bank of India CSP operator in Anhari village under Riga police station on July 1.

Following the incident, Riga Police Station Case No. 268/26 was registered, and a Special Investigation Team was formed.

Investigators identified the accused through CCTV footage, technical surveillance, and human Intelligence, after which efforts were intensified to apprehend him.

During the investigation, acting on a tip-off, the Town Police conducted a raid near Husaina Bridge on Thursday night and arrested four alleged associates with illegal firearms. However, Phekan Kumar allegedly escaped on a white Apache motorcycle, prompting police to impose a districtwide vehicle checking operation and blockade.

When police located him near Revasi village and attempted to stop him, the alleged exchange of fire took place, leading to his arrest.

Police recovered three country-made pistols, two live cartridges, and the white Apache motorcycle allegedly used by the accused.

During the investigation, the motorcycle was found to have been stolen from the Parsauni police station area on June 29.

Following the encounter, SP Amit Ranjan, Sadar SDPO Rajiv Kumar Singh, and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team visited the scene to collect scientific evidence.

Police said raids are continuing to apprehend other absconding suspects connected to the case.

Apart from Phekan Kumar, the district police also arrested Laddu Kumar (22), Avinash Kumar (22) of Minapur Balho in Sheohar district, Avinash Kumar (18) of Chakmahila, and Kamlesh Kumar (19) of the same locality.

According to police, Phekan Kumar has an extensive criminal record, with more than half a dozen cases, including robbery and dacoity, registered against him at various police stations.

Officials said he had been released from jail only about 15 days before the recent CSP robbery.

Police allege that soon after his release, he was involved in the robbery at the Anhari CSP, after which a search operation was launched that culminated in Thursday night’s encounter.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, and police said further legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the probe.

–IANS

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