Jhansi encounter: 2 habitual offenders arrested after exchange of fire in UP
Synopsis
Two theft suspects opened fire on a joint Babina Police and SOG team in Jhansi on 16 July — and ended up shot, arrested, and stripped of stolen gold, silver jewellery, and an illegal firearm. The encounter is the latest in a string of similar operations targeting habitual offenders across Uttar Pradesh.
Key Takeaways
Babina Police and a Special Operations Group (SOG) team arrested two habitual offenders in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh on 16 July after an exchange of fire.
The arrested accused are identified as Kader (resident of Dholpura, Rajasthan) and Riyasat (resident of Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh).
Kader sustained a gunshot injury to his leg during retaliatory police firing and has been sent for treatment.
Police recovered stolen gold and silver jewellery , ₹3,350 in cash , one illegal .315 bore firearm , and three cartridges from the accused.
The theft that prompted the operation occurred on the night of 29 June under the Bhel outpost area of Babina Police Station.
A forensic team is examining the encounter site; further investigation is ongoing.
Two habitual offenders wanted in a theft case were arrested in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on 16 July following a police encounter in which one of the accused sustained a gunshot injury to his leg, police said on Friday, 17 July. The arrests were made jointly by the Babina Police Station staff and a Special Operations Group (SOG) team.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Sadar Circle Officer Priya Singh, addressing the media, said the operation was triggered by a theft that occurred on the night of 29 June under the Bhel outpost area of Babina Police Station, for which an FIR had been registered. Local police had been on heightened alert in the days that followed, actively working to trace the accused and recover stolen property.
According to Singh, when the joint police team moved in to apprehend the accused and recover stolen items, the suspects opened fire on the officers with the intent to cause harm. Police retaliated in self-defence, during which one of the accused was shot in the leg.
Who Was Arrested
The injured accused has been identified as Kader, a resident of Dholpura, Rajasthan. The second accused, arrested without injury, has been identified as Riyasat, a resident of Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. Both are described by police as habitual offenders with prior criminal records.
Recoveries Made at the Scene
Police recovered stolen gold and silver jewellery linked to the alleged robbery in the Babina Police Station area. Additionally, ₹3,350 in cash, one illegal .315 bore firearm, two empty cartridges, and one live cartridge were seized from the accused, according to Singh.
The injured accused, Kader, has been sent for medical treatment. A forensic team is conducting an examination at the site, Singh confirmed. Further investigation in the case is underway.
Similar Incident in Mathura
This comes amid a broader pattern of police encounters targeting alleged history-sheeters across Uttar Pradesh. In a comparable incident earlier this week, the Mathura Police arrested two alleged habitual offenders and murder accused following an encounter. Both suspects sustained bullet injuries to their left legs during retaliatory firing and were subsequently admitted to the district hospital. According to police, the Mathura suspects had allegedly fired on the police team in an attempt to flee and cause harm to the officers, prompting the retaliatory response.
Point of View
But the pattern also raises due-process questions that rarely surface in official briefings. The Jhansi operation followed procedure on paper — SOG involvement, FIR on record, forensic team deployed — yet the consistent frequency of leg-shot injuries across UP encounters invites scrutiny of whether these are genuinely reactive or operationally pre-planned. Without independent oversight of encounter claims, the accountability gap widens even as the crime-suppression optics hold.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Jhansi police encounter on 16 July?
Babina Police and a Special Operations Group team attempted to arrest two habitual offenders wanted in a theft case. When the suspects opened fire on the officers, police retaliated, injuring one accused, Kader, in the leg. Both accused were subsequently arrested.
Who are the accused arrested in the Jhansi encounter?
The two arrested accused are Kader, a resident of Dholpura in Rajasthan, and Riyasat, a resident of Jalaun in Uttar Pradesh. Both are described by police as habitual offenders linked to a theft registered at Babina Police Station.
What was recovered during the Jhansi encounter?
Police recovered stolen gold and silver jewellery, ₹3,350 in cash, one illegal .315 bore firearm, two empty cartridges, and one live cartridge from the accused at the scene.
What was the original theft case that led to the Jhansi encounter?
A theft took place on the night of 29 June under the Bhel outpost area of Babina Police Station in Jhansi. An FIR was registered, and police had been on alert to trace the accused and recover stolen valuables in the days that followed.
Was there a similar encounter elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh?
Yes. The Mathura Police earlier this week arrested two alleged history-sheeters and murder accused in a separate encounter. Both suspects sustained bullet injuries to their left legs during retaliatory firing and were admitted to the district hospital for treatment.
