DHANBAD: Two suspected associates of Gopi Khan, brother of alleged gangster Prince Khan, were injured in an exchange of fire with police in the Barwadda police station area late Monday night. Both sustained bullet injuries to their right legs and were admitted to SNMMCH for treatment.The injured have been identified as Irfan Alam alias Tunna, a resident of Noori Masjid Road in Wasseypur, and Nanhe Ansari of Putki. Police said they had received information around 11.15 pm that members of Gopi Khan’s group were coming towards Barwadda to allegedly collect levy.A patrol team was alerted and began checking the area. During the operation, three suspected criminals riding a motorcycle were spotted travelling from Bypass Road through Kurmidih towards Nirankari Chowk.When police signalled them to stop, the suspects allegedly opened fire. One bullet hit the windshield of the police patrol vehicle.Police retaliated, in which Irfan and Nanhe sustained bullet injuries in their right legs. They fell on the road along with the motorcycle, while the third suspect managed to escape taking advantage of darkness. Two pistols were recovered from the spot, police said.SSP Prabhat Kumar, City SP Ritwik Srivastava and Rural SP Mohammad S Yakub reached the spot after receiving information about the encounter. The Kurmidih-Nirankari Chowk road was barricaded and movement was temporarily stopped. An FSL team from Ranchi was also called to examine the scene.SSP Prabhat Kumar said the suspects opened fire at the police vehicle when they saw the patrol team. He added that during the incident, one of the accused was allegedly speaking to Gopi Khan over the phone.According to the SSP, this indicates that Gopi Khan may now be operating the network associated with his brother Prince Khan. Police are investigating the matter.Irfan has several criminal cases against him and was recently out on bail, police said.Nanhe had reportedly been active with him for some time. Investigators are examining their mobile phones to determine whom they were allegedly going to collect levy from and what instructions they had received from Gopi Khan.Police have launched raids to trace the third accused who fled from the spot.
