Wanted criminal with ₹1.90 lakh reward killed in Ayodhya STF encounter
Synopsis
A career criminal with 40 cases across UP and a ₹1.90 lakh composite reward on his head was shot dead by the STF near Ayodhya's Aimi Ghat bridge after he allegedly opened fire on the team. On the same day, a separate Sitapur operation recovered ₹77 lakh in stolen goods including two luxury cars, signalling a broad anti-crime push across Uttar Pradesh.
Key Takeaways
Bhanu Pratap Singh , alias Bablu, was killed in an STF encounter near Aimi Ghat bridge, Ayodhya on the night of 8 June 2025 .
He carried a cumulative reward of ₹1.90 lakh announced by four different police units across UP.
Approximately 40 serious criminal cases were registered against him across multiple UP districts.
In a separate Sitapur operation, accused Yogendra Chauhan and Dharmraj were arrested with stolen property worth ₹77 lakh , including an Audi and a Ciaz.
The duo allegedly confessed to multiple house break-ins and was reportedly headed to Lucknow to sell stolen jewellery when caught.
A wanted criminal carrying a cumulative reward of ₹1.90 lakh was shot dead in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Ayodhya on the intervening night of Sunday, 8 June, officials confirmed on Monday. The deceased was identified as Bhanu Pratap Singh, alias Bablu, a resident of Vidhanapar village under the Belghat police station area in Gorakhpur district.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to officials, the STF cornered Bhanu Pratap Singh near the Aimi Ghat bridge in the Maharajganj police station area of Ayodhya at around 11 pm on Sunday, while he was allegedly attempting to flee on a motorcycle. He reportedly opened fire on the STF team, prompting retaliatory action. Singh sustained critical injuries in the exchange of fire and was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds.
Criminal History and Reward Announced
Officials said approximately 40 serious criminal cases had been registered against Singh across various districts of Uttar Pradesh, and he had been absconding for a prolonged period. Multiple police units had announced rewards for his arrest: ₹1 lakh by the Azamgarh police, ₹50,000 by the Ambedkarnagar police, ₹25,000 by the Gorakhpur police, and ₹15,000 by the Basti police, totalling ₹1.90 lakh.
Separate Sitapur Operation Nets Stolen Property Worth ₹77 Lakh
In a separate joint operation, police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Sitapur arrested two alleged thieves and recovered stolen property worth approximately ₹77 lakh, including an Audi and a Ciaz car. The accused were identified as Yogendra Chauhan and Dharmraj.
Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Durgesh Kumar Singh said that Yogendra is a history-sheeter from the Sadarpur police station area and is also wanted in a case at the Mahmudabad police station. Several serious offence cases have previously been registered against him at multiple stations in the district.
What the Accused Allegedly Confessed
During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to breaking into a house in Albada village some 15–20 days prior and stealing jewellery. They also reportedly confessed to stealing ₹15,000 in cash and a pair of anklets from a house in Manva village roughly 10–12 days earlier. The duo was allegedly on their way to Lucknow to sell the remaining stolen jewellery when they were apprehended. Police noted that the accused used luxury vehicles to carry out the thefts.
The twin operations underscore the continued pressure Uttar Pradesh law enforcement agencies are maintaining on organised crime networks across the state.
Point of View
Where the STF has used late-night interceptions to neutralise high-reward fugitives. With 40 cases across multiple districts, Bhanu Pratap Singh's prolonged evasion points to systemic gaps in inter-district coordination — gaps that the composite reward structure was meant to address. The simultaneous Sitapur recovery of ₹77 lakh in stolen goods, including luxury vehicles used as operational cover, suggests organised theft networks are growing more sophisticated. Whether these operations reflect a genuine crime-reduction trend or a spike in encounter-based policing warrants independent scrutiny.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bhanu Pratap Singh and why was he wanted?
Bhanu Pratap Singh, alias Bablu, was a wanted criminal from Vidhanapar village in Gorakhpur district with approximately 40 serious criminal cases registered against him across Uttar Pradesh. Four police units — Azamgarh, Ambedkarnagar, Gorakhpur, and Basti — had collectively announced rewards totalling ₹1.90 lakh for his arrest.
How did the Ayodhya STF encounter take place?
The STF cornered Bhanu Pratap Singh near the Aimi Ghat bridge in the Maharajganj police station area of Ayodhya at around 11 pm on Sunday, 8 June, as he allegedly tried to escape on a motorcycle. He reportedly opened fire on the STF team, who retaliated; Singh sustained critical injuries and later died at a hospital.
What was recovered in the Sitapur operation?
Police and the SOG in Sitapur recovered stolen property worth approximately ₹77 lakh from accused Yogendra Chauhan and Dharmraj, including an Audi and a Ciaz car. The duo allegedly confessed to multiple house burglaries and was reportedly heading to Lucknow to sell stolen jewellery when apprehended.
Who is Yogendra Chauhan?
Yogendra Chauhan is described by police as a history-sheeter from the Sadarpur police station area in Sitapur, also wanted in a case at the Mahmudabad police station. Multiple serious offence cases have previously been registered against him at different police stations in the district.
What do these operations indicate about crime trends in UP?
The back-to-back operations in Ayodhya and Sitapur reflect ongoing pressure by Uttar Pradesh law enforcement on fugitives and organised theft networks. The use of luxury vehicles by alleged thieves and the scale of stolen goods suggest increasingly organised criminal activity, even as police operations appear to be intensifying.
