The Patna Police intervened to prevent a suspected scheme to disturb peace in Maner city ahead of the Holi festival by capturing eight alleged criminals near Hulasi Tola village. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement officials surrounded the area and detained the group while they were reportedly planning illicit activities. During the operation, the police seized two country-made pistols, an additional pistol, and eight live cartridges from the suspects.
Authorities revealed that the apprehended individuals had assembled in the garden on Sunday night. In response to the intelligence received, a specialized team led by Damapur State Divisional Police Officer A.K. Jha, in collaboration with Maner Police Station Station House Officer Rajneesh Kumar, swiftly conducted the operation and arrested all eight suspects on-site. Among the detainees, two individuals, identified as Mantesh and Bittu, have previous criminal records, with Mantesh having been incarcerated in 2023 in connection with a shooting incident at the residence of Maner Municipal Council Chairman Vidyadhar Vinod.
The police mentioned that Bittu is also facing multiple serious charges across various police stations. Authorities are currently verifying the criminal histories of the remaining accused to ascertain the scope of the criminal network. Following the operation, intensive interrogations have commenced to determine the alleged target and motive behind the planned criminal activity before Holi. Patna Superintendent of Police (City-West) Bhanu Pratap is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday to reveal further details regarding the arrests and the ongoing investigation.
In a bid to curb crime incidents, the Patna Police has initiated a special drive against criminals. Bihar’s Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar has instructed all district police chiefs to implement stringent preventive measures in anticipation of Holi. To ensure peace during the festival, a substantial deployment of police forces has been arranged, including 12 companies of the Range Reserve Force, 31 companies of the Bihar Armed Police Force, 2,768 Police Training Centre trainee constables, 5,100 Home Guards, and three companies of the Central Police Reserve Force. Notably, a significant concentration of police personnel has been stationed in Patna, comprising three companies of the Range Reserve Police Force, three companies of the Bihar Armed Police Force, 535 newly recruited Constables, and 400 Home Guards.
