In Bihar, criminal escapes police custody by jumping into river

In a shocking incident in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, a criminal named Santosh Yadav managed to escape police custody by jumping into the Chandan River. The escape occurred on Saturday, September 26, 2026, near the Jagdishpur Police Station, in the vicinity of Saidpur Ghat. Police received a tip from an informant that the criminal, who had a history of multiple criminal cases, was seen carrying an improvised musket and cartridges near the riverbank.

A team of four constables apprehended Yadav and were escorting him to a jeep when they had to cross a 50-meter bamboo bridge. While crossing the bridge, an argument ensued, causing the team to stop for a few seconds. When they resumed their journey, the criminal managed to pull down one of the constables and jumped into the river.

Both the constable and the criminal were carried downstream by the river's current, but the constable managed to swim to safety. The criminal, however, was not found and remains missing. Bhagalpur Police are concerned that the criminal may have reached the opposite bank and fled the area. Station House Officer Ramchandra Singh stated that there was no trace of the criminal after he jumped into the river.

Police teams are conducting raids at his potential hideouts. A family member of the criminal speculated that he may have drowned, as he was a tractor driver and supported his family financially. Searches were performed by a team of divers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), but the criminal could not be located by the time this report was filed.