Patna: The main accused in the July 5 double murder case in Banka, Sachin Singh, was shot in the leg by police early Saturday after allegedly attempting to escape while being taken to a forest to recover the murder weapon. He was later admitted to a hospital in Bhagalpur under police custody. Singh was arrested from Ranchi on Friday.Police said the killings stemmed from an old enmity and a dispute over a village road. On July 5, Sachin allegedly shot dead Gunjan Singh (34) and Sindhu Kumar (33), both residents of Dharmarai village under Amarpur police station area. Gunjan had a criminal record A case under IPC Section 307 and the SC/ST Act was registered against him in 2020. Sachin, a resident of Ballia village under Amarpur police station, had been absconding since the murders.According to Banka SP Amitesh Kumar, after the double murder, a special investigation team was formed to solve the case. The team arrested one of the accused, Somnath Singh, a resident of Athmaha village under Amarpur police station, within 72 hours of the incident. Subsequent raids led to the arrest of the main accused, Sachin Singh, from a hotel in Ranchi on Friday. During interrogation, Sachin allegedly told police he had hidden a pistol in a jungle near Ballia village.“Around 3am on Saturday, he was taken to a forest area in the village to recover the weapon used in the crime. Upon reaching the forest, the accused suddenly scuffled with the policemen, freed himself, and began running. During this time, he retrieved a hidden pistol and began firing at the police team. In retaliatory firing, he was shot in the leg. He was first taken to Banka sadar hospital and later referred to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Mayaganj, Bhagalpur,” the SP said, adding that police are also trying to identify and trace another absconding suspects in the case.
