Police on Monday released the sketch of one of the suspects who had shot at additional superintendent of police (ASP) Rakesh Kumar and his bodyguard on October 8.

Two persons had fired at the cop and his bodyguard, Suresh Kumar, who had seen one of the assailants. Suresh helped the police prepare the sketch.

The second assailant was driving the bike and his face was not visible to the cops when the incident occurred.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikas Vaibhav said one of the assailants had probably received bullet injuries during the exchange of fire.

"The sketch of the suspect has been sent to all the police stations of Patna and has been posted on the Facebook page of the Patna police. We have appealed to the people to help us trace the suspect. The identity of the informer would be kept secret," the senior superintendent of police said.

Additional superintendent of police Rakesh and his bodyguard had suffered bullet injuries during the encounter. The five-minute gun battle near Kamla Utsav Hall at Chhajjubagh took place at a stone's throw distance from Kotwali police station.

"Minutes after the gun fight had started, Suresh, who is undergoing treatment, had grabbed the pillion rider from behind. This happened when the additional superintendent of police was hit by a bullet and had slumped to the ground. However, the criminals managed to free themselves and fired at Suresh. A bullet pierced through the right side of his stomach. The bikers then fled. While on the run, the cops fired at them and the police suspect that the pillion was hit. The special investigation team (SIT) looking into the case has not been able to trace the man even after scanning hospitals in Patna," Vaibhav told The Telegraph.

To add to the woes of the police, a power cut at the time of the incident, had blacked out the closed-circuit television cameras installed at nearby locations. "So far, there has not been any breakthrough. We cannot point at a particular gang," the senior superintendent of police said.

♦ The incident occurred on the night of October 8
♦ A special investigation team, consisting of 25 officers, has been formed and is being supervised by the Patna senior superintendent of police
♦ Ramakant Prasad, a deputy superintendent of police-rank officer and known for a strong informer network, has been included in the team
♦ More than 20 people have been detained in connection with the incident but there has been no breakthrough yet