Uttar Pradesh Police and the Special Task Force (STF) launched a sweeping anti-crime offensive across the state on 8 June, conducting seven major encounters within a 36-hour window. One accused was killed and six others sustained gunshot injuries during the coordinated operations, which spanned districts from Ayodhya and Jhansi to Lucknow, Hapur, Chandauli, Saharanpur, and Shravasti.

Key Developments

The most significant operation took place in Ayodhya, where the STF shot and killed Bhanu Pratap Singh, also known as Bablu — a notorious contract killer and sharpshooter carrying a reward of more than ₹1 lakh. The encounter occurred late Sunday night in the Maharajganj police station area. According to officials, the STF intercepted Singh during an operation and an exchange of fire followed. He sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to Ayodhya Medical College in critical condition, where he was later declared dead.

Singh was reportedly wanted in dozens of criminal cases across several districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including charges of murder, dacoity, robbery, kidnapping, and offences under the Gangster Act. Police described him as one of the region's most wanted criminals.

District-by-District Operations

In Jhansi, police confronted suspects linked to the murder of Gaurishankar Kushwaha, who was allegedly attacked along with his uncle Murari near Shivani Hotel on the Delhi Highway under the Sipri Bazar police station limits. The attack, reportedly carried out with sharp-edged weapons, left Gaurishankar dead and Murari injured. Two suspects — including the hotel owner — were arrested and jailed within hours. During a subsequent operation, the main accused, identified as Chigara, was shot and injured, while another accused, Raggu, surrendered. One accused in the case remains at large.

In Lucknow, police arrested Sumit Kashyap after CCTV footage and technical evidence linked him to the alleged molestation, assault, and attempted murder of a woman under the Ghazipur police station limits. Interrogation of Kashyap allegedly led to the identification of a second accused, Sunny, also known as Shani Kashyap, who was subsequently apprehended following a police encounter.

In Hapur, police confronted a gang of motorcycle-borne robbers allegedly responsible for a robbery at the residence of businessman Narendra Kabadi. During the highway encounter, two accused — Rohit and Shane Alam — sustained gunshot injuries, while three other gang members were arrested. Authorities said verification of the remaining suspects' criminal backgrounds is ongoing.

In Chandauli, police arrested the principal shooter in a murder case committed just a day prior. The accused allegedly opened fire when confronted, and sustained gunshot injuries to both legs in the retaliatory action. He and a second arrested individual were also linked to a robbery in the Balua police station area on 3 June.

In Saharanpur, a late-night operation targeting buffalo theft suspects led to an encounter near Nainsob village along the under-construction Delhi-Haridwar highway. One suspect was shot in the leg; another attempted to flee but was captured. Both were arrested and are being produced before a court.

In Shravasti, a joint team from Sonwa and Kotwali Bhinga police stations arrested an accused wanted for gang rape, criminal conspiracy, offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and illegal possession of firearms. Police recovered a .315-bore country-made pistol, a live cartridge, two spent cartridges, a mobile phone, and ₹1,200 in cash from his possession.

What the Police Said

Officials stated that the series of operations reflects the Uttar Pradesh Police's sustained campaign against organised crime and repeat offenders. Authorities confirmed that the anti-crime drive will continue and that investigations across all cases remain active.

Broader Context

This comes amid a pattern of high-tempo policing in Uttar Pradesh, where encounter-based operations have been a recurring feature of law enforcement strategy in recent years. Critics and civil liberties groups have previously raised questions about due process in such operations, though no such concerns have been formally raised in connection with this specific series of encounters. The targeted individuals reportedly carried multiple criminal cases across different police station jurisdictions, suggesting coordinated inter-district criminal networks.