PATNA: At least three alleged criminals were killed in an encounter with police near the Ganga river in Sherpur, under the Maner police station area of Bihar’s Patna district, early Friday.Maner Station House Officer (SHO) Rajnish Kumar sustained a bullet injury to his left hand during the exchange of fire.The encounter took place during a joint operation conducted by the Patna Special Task Force (STF) and Patna Police. The three injured suspects were taken to hospital, where they were declared dead. The injured SHO was shifted to Patna for treatment.Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartik Kumar Sharma said police teams were carrying out crime prevention operations when they received information that some criminals were allegedly planning a major incident in Sherpur.According to news agency ANI, Sharma said, “Police were preparing for operations as part of crime prevention. During this, the STF and the district police force were conducting operations in different areas. We received information that some criminals, who had a previous criminal history, had arrived here and were planning to carry out a major incident in Sherpur.”He said the suspects opened fire when the police team reached the location, and the SHO was injured in the retaliation.“When the police team reached this place, the criminals started firing. They were firing rapidly. During this, the Maner SHO and his team got out of their vehicle and retaliated. A bullet grazed the Maner SHO and passed through his uniform. The criminals also fired at other personnel,” he said.According to Sharma, three suspects were found injured after the firing stopped. They were rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead.“When the police retaliated, some people were injured. After the firing stopped, the police moved forward and found three people lying injured. All three were sent to hospital for treatment, where we were informed that they had died. Further action is underway, and the post-mortem will be conducted with videography,” he said.The SSP said weapons were recovered from the deceased and that all three had previous criminal records. He added that they were allegedly involved in a murder in Maner on Ashtami and were wanted in connection with the case. They were also wanted in several other cases registered in areas including Danapur and Shahpur.Sharma said police fired 18 rounds during the encounter, while the suspects fired more than 24 rounds. “The police fired 18 rounds, while the criminals fired more than 24 rounds. All three individuals have been declared dead,” he said.Police recovered two pistols, a country-made firearm and several empty cartridges from the encounter site.In a separate incident in Bihar’s Darbhanga district, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Randhir Kumar of Sakatpur police station sustained a bullet injury near his knee while on patrol near an orchard during the day.Police personnel accompanying him said they heard a gunshot moments before the officer was hit by a bullet near his knee.He was taken to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for advanced treatment. Police said his condition was stable and that the injury was not life-threatening.(With Agency Inputs)