Hazaribagh, July 30: A late-night encounter occurred between police and armed members of the notorious Prince Khan gang in the Barkagaon area of Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand. During the exchange of gunfire, one gang member sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, while two to three accomplices managed to escape into the darkness and surrounding forest.
The injured criminal has been taken into police custody and admitted to a hospital. Authorities are currently verifying his identity and criminal record. Police received a tip-off indicating that gang members were congregating near the 13 Mile Transporting Road in Barkagaon, allegedly planning a significant crime or extortion attempt.
Following this intelligence, police set up blockades in sensitive areas of the district, including coal transporting routes and major intersections, launching a special investigation operation. Under the leadership of Barkagaon police station chief Deepak Kumar Singh, a special team initiated a search operation in the forested area.
According to police reports, as the team approached the vicinity of 13 Mile, the ambushed criminals opened fire. In response, police fired back in self-defense, resulting in one gang member being shot and falling to the ground, while the others fled into the woods. Preliminary investigations link this gang to a recent shooting incident involving coal-laden vehicles at the NTPC Pakri Barwadih project area.
On July 26, criminals fired upon high-capacity vehicles loaded with coal at the NTPC Pakri Barwadih project site, leaving behind a note bearing the name of the Prince Khan gang. Following the encounter, additional police forces have been deployed throughout the area, conducting intensive combing operations in the forests. Raids are being carried out at potential hideouts to apprehend the fleeing criminals.
This marks the second encounter between police and extortion gangs in Hazaribagh’s coal regions within the past week. On July 24, an encounter in the Keredari police station area resulted in one criminal being injured and two others arrested, with illegal weapons and a motorcycle seized from their possession.
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