Patna Police today arrested a young man found carrying a loaded pistol near the Patna Civil Court premises, while a second accomplice managed to flee during the encounter, officials said. The arrest occurred amid heightened security measures around the court complex, which sees daily high footfall of lawyers, litigants and staff.
According to police, the suspect was spotted loitering suspiciously near one of the court’s entry points by patrolling officers, prompting them to conduct a stop-and-search. During the search, officers recovered a licensed-looking but unverified loaded firearm from his possession. The man was immediately taken into custody, and the weapon was seized for forensic examination. Police said preliminary inspection indicates the pistol was operable and loaded with ammunition.
The second suspect, believed to be accompanying the arrested man, escaped on foot as police closed in. Search teams have been deployed in the surrounding areas with the help of CCTV footage to locate and apprehend the fleeing individual.
Police said they are probing whether the weapon was intended for intimidation, personal protection or illegal activity. The arrested youth is being questioned to determine his identity, motivations and any possible links to wider criminal networks. Officials are also verifying whether he held a valid firearm licence or if the weapon is trafficked or unregistered.
Security at the Patna Civil Court has been tightened further, with additional checks and frisking at all gates to ensure the safety of visitors, lawyers and
Local residents and regular court visitors expressed concern that a loaded weapon was brought so close to a public judicial institution. Many called for stricter enforcement of firearm regulations and better perimeter security to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Police appealed to citizens with information about the escaped suspect to come forward, and assured that intensive efforts are underway to secure his arrest. They reiterated that possession of an unverified weapon near sensitive locations like a court complex is a serious offence, and that charges will be filed accordingly once the investigation progresses.
The weapon is being sent for ballistics testing, and investigators are examining call records, movements and possible affiliations of the detainee to build a comprehensive case file.
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