Rupaidiha Police In Encounter With Notorious Criminals

Rupaidihah police had an encounter with suspected hardened criminals in the Rupaidihah police station area, during which one criminal was shot in the leg and two of his associates managed to escape by taking advantage of the situation, according to the police account.

The injured criminal has a long criminal history, police said. Officers, including the Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, were present at the spot after the encounter.

The action took place in Bahraich district as part of the campaign being run against vehicle thieves. In this connection, Superintendent of Police Bahraich Vishwajeet Shrivastava had formed police teams and issued necessary directions for action.

According to the police, on the night of 22/23.09.2026, Inspector-in-charge Harendra Mishra and the Rupaidihah police team were present on the road from ICP Mor to Pachpokhari. During this time, they received information through a special informer that some suspicious persons with criminal tendencies were present in the forest of Ranjitbojha with stolen motorcycles.

The information further said that the suspected persons were planning to take the stolen motorcycles to Nepal nation for the purpose of selling them. Taking the information seriously, Inspector-in-charge Harendra Mishra, along with the police team, reached the place mentioned by the informer and started searching for the suspicious persons.

During the search, the police team saw three suspicious persons coming on two motorcycles. The police team tried to stop them. However, according to police, when the three saw themselves surrounded by the police team, they opened fire with the intention of carrying out a life-threatening attack on the police team and tried to run towards the forest.

Police said that in self-defence, the team fired in response. In the retaliatory action, one criminal was hit by a bullet in his right leg and fell down injured. His two other associates, however, managed to flee from the spot by taking advantage of the darkness and the forest.

The injured criminal was taken into custody as per rules. During questioning, he was identified as Abdul alias Abdul Salam, son of Babu alias Jaleel Khan, resident of Sitapurwa Sahajna, police station Rupaidihah, district Bahraich.

Police said they recovered one pistol, one spent cartridge, one live cartridge and one stolen Pulsar motorcycle without a number plate from the accused. Several cases are already registered against injured criminal Abdul Salam, police said.

After being taken into custody, Abdul Salam was immediately sent to hospital for treatment. Police teams are carrying out continuous combing operations to search for the two criminals who escaped from the spot.

Superintendent of Police Bahraich reached the spot, inspected the scene and issued necessary directions. Further action is underway, police said.