DHANBAD, March 16 -- Three suspected associates of fugitive gangster Prince Khan were injured in a police encounter during a joint operation conducted by the Ranchi and Dhanbad police in the Bhagabandh outpost area under Putki police station limits early Monday, officials said.

Police said the encounter occurred after the joint team received specific intelligence that some members of the Prince Khan gang were hiding in the Bhagabandh area. Acting on the tip-off, police teams surrounded the locality and launched a search operation. As the team approached the suspected hideout, the criminals allegedly opened fire, prompting retaliatory firing by the police.

During the exchange of fire, Aman Singh alias Kuber, a resident of Palamu, and Vic...