3 wanted men dead in encounter, Bihar police say fired in self-defence

Bihar Police and Kollam East police collaborated to apprehend Mohammed Ajaj Ahmed, a notorious criminal wanted for the murder of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Baidyanath Mahto and another individual. The 30-year-old from Dumra Ketharia in Sitamarhi district was caught in Andamukkam, Kollam, on Friday. Ajaj had been living there with his family, earning his living as a driver for a footwear shop and later for a lawyer.

Law enforcement received a tip-off about his whereabouts and conducted the arrest with assistance from a local team. Ajaj has over eleven criminal cases registered against him in various Bihar police stations, including charges of murder, attempted murder, arms act violations, robbery, and theft. The high-profile murder took place on September 12, 2026, in Dumra when assailants on a motorcycle shot Mahto while he was out for his morning walk.

This incident sparked public outrage and clashes, with a crowd even vandalizing police vehicles. Ajaj fled across multiple states after the crime, evading police until he was apprehended in Kollam. He underwent a medical examination and was handed over to Bihar Police for transportation back to Bihar.