A police operation against suspected illegal firearms trading turned violent in Varanasi on Friday night, October 30, after a police team came under gunfire in the Sundarpur area. The incident left a police constable seriously injured and triggered subsequent encounters in which two accused were also shot. Police arrested three suspects in connection with the case.
Sudden Firing on Police Team
The incident took place in the Ashutosh Nagar area near Sundarpur, under the jurisdiction of Lanka Police Station. Police teams had reached the location after receiving information about suspected illegal firearms trading.
However, the operation took a dangerous turn when the suspects allegedly opened fire at the approaching police personnel. Constable Amit Shukla was hit by three bullets during the firing. He was immediately rushed to the BHU Trauma Centre for medical treatment.
Two Accused Injured in Police Retaliation
Following the initial firing, police launched an operation to track down the suspects. During subsequent encounters, two accused sustained bullet injuries in police retaliation.
One of the injured accused was shot in the leg. The encounters reportedly took place near the Lotubir Temple area. Police teams subsequently managed to take the suspects into custody.
Three Accused Arrested
The three accused were identified as Raj Vishwakarma, Anjani Jha and Raju Tiwari. All three were arrested by the police in connection with the firing incident and the suspected illegal firearms trade.
Police also initiated further action to investigate the alleged weapons network and establish the sequence of events surrounding the shooting.
Injured Constable Undergoing Treatment at Hospital
Constable Amit Shukla was admitted to the BHU Trauma Centre after sustaining three bullet injuries. His condition was reported to be under control.
The incident highlights the risks faced by police personnel during operations against illegal firearms networks. Further investigation is underway to determine the accused persons’ involvement and identify any additional links in the suspected arms trade.