A man accused of strangling and murdering a seven-year-old girl was injured in a police encounter near the Nepal border after allegedly attempting to escape custody and firing at officers, police said on Monday. The accused, identified as Arun, was being taken by a police team to recover evidence linked to the child’s murder within the Khairighat police station area in Bahraich. During the operation, he reportedly found an opportunity to flee from custody.

According to Vishwajeet Srivastava, police immediately launched a search operation and sealed off nearby areas after the escape. Authorities later received information that Arun was attempting to reach Nepal through the Khobariya forest route toward Imamganj. Police teams from Khairighat and neighbouring stations set up a blockade along the suspected route. Officials said Arun allegedly opened fire after realising he was surrounded. In response, police retaliated, and a bullet struck him in the leg.

The accused was later taken into custody and shifted to a hospital for treatment. Police also recovered a .312-bore pistol from the scene. Further investigation into the murder case and the escape attempt is underway. In a separate incident earlier this month, police in Ghaziabad arrested a murder suspect following an encounter in the Loni area. Police said the case related to the killing of a man on April 29 in Uttaranchal Vihar Colony under the Loni Border police station limits. Using CCTV footage and local intelligence, officers identified the suspect as Anand and tracked him near the Behta underpass.

According to Siddharth Gautam, police attempted to stop two suspects near the underpass, but both tried to escape. During the chase, one of the accused allegedly fired at officers, prompting police to return fire. The suspect sustained a bullet injury to the leg and was hospitalised, while the second accused escaped under cover of darkness. Police recovered a .315-bore country-made pistol along with live and empty cartridges from the injured suspect. Officials said legal proceedings and investigation in the case are continuing.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.