History-sheeter Sambhari shot in leg during Bahraich encounter; 3 arrested
Synopsis
A history-sheeter with over three dozen criminal cases against him was shot in the leg and three others arrested after suspects opened fire on a joint SOG-police team in Bahraich, UP. Two more accused fled, and a search is now underway — with stolen jewellery, cash, and an illegal pistol already recovered.
Key Takeaways
History-sheeter Sambhari , with more than three dozen serious criminal cases registered against him, was shot in the leg during a police encounter in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh on 19 October .
Three accused — Mahesh Chauhan , Mohit Lal , and Anil Vishwakarma — were arrested at the scene.
Two unidentified suspects fled after firing at the police team; a search operation is ongoing.
Recovered items include an illegal pistol , ammunition , a car , stolen jewellery , and cash .
SP Vishwajeet Srivastava confirmed the police acted in self-defence and said legal proceedings have been initiated.
A history-sheeter identified as Sambhari sustained a bullet injury to his leg during a police encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district on Monday, 19 October, as a joint team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and local police conducted a vehicle-checking operation on the Nanpara-Khairi Ghat road. Three other accused were arrested at the scene, while two suspects fled after firing at the police team, triggering a search operation.
How the Encounter Unfolded
The operation was launched under the jurisdiction of Khairi Ghat police station after the station in-charge received specific intelligence that suspicious individuals had gathered on a road leading to Nanpara, reportedly planning a theft or attempting to offload stolen goods.
The SOG in-charge and the local station in-charge, along with other personnel, moved to the location and attempted to intercept two cars approaching the area. A man travelling in the leading vehicle allegedly stepped out and opened fire on the police team, prompting the personnel to retaliate in self-defence.
During the exchange of fire, Sambhari — against whom more than three dozen serious criminal cases have been registered, according to police — was shot in the leg and fell at the spot. The two occupants of the second car also fired at the police before fleeing.
Arrests and Recoveries
Following the encounter, police cordoned off the area and arrested three individuals: Mahesh Chauhan, Mohit Lal, and Anil Vishwakarma. The operation also yielded the recovery of an illegal pistol, ammunition, a car, stolen jewellery, and cash.
The arrested men are currently being interrogated to determine their involvement in other theft cases across the district and to identify possible accomplices, officials said.
What the Police Said
Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vishwajeet Srivastava confirmed that the team had acted on credible information about suspicious activity in the area. He stated that when a suspect opened fire on the personnel, the police retaliated in self-defence, resulting in one accused being injured and three others being apprehended.
SP Srivastava added that efforts were underway to trace and arrest the two absconding suspects and that necessary legal proceedings were being initiated.
Wider Investigation
Investigators are working to establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine whether the accused were linked to other criminal activities in Bahraich and surrounding areas. This comes amid a broader drive by Uttar Pradesh Police to crack down on organised theft networks and history-sheeters operating across the state's border districts.
Point of View
With Bahraich's border geography making it a persistent hotspot for theft and organised crime networks. What this incident underscores is the recurring pattern of armed resistance by accused — a signal that weapons availability among petty criminal groups remains a serious unresolved problem. The recovery of stolen jewellery and cash alongside an illegal pistol suggests a convergence of property crime and armed criminality that routine enforcement alone is unlikely to dismantle. The two absconding suspects represent an open thread: until they are traced, the full network behind the operation remains unclear.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Bahraich police encounter on 19 October 2026?
A joint team of the Special Operations Group and local police was conducting a vehicle-checking operation on the Nanpara-Khairi Ghat road when suspects in two cars opened fire. History-sheeter Sambhari was shot in the leg, three others were arrested, and two suspects fled the scene.
Who is Sambhari and what is his criminal record?
Sambhari is described by police as a history-sheeter, meaning he has a prior criminal record across multiple cases. According to police, more than three dozen serious criminal cases have been registered against him.
What was recovered during the Bahraich encounter?
Police recovered an illegal pistol, ammunition, a car, stolen jewellery, and cash from the accused at the site of the encounter.
Who were the three people arrested in the Bahraich operation?
The three arrested individuals were identified as Mahesh Chauhan, Mohit Lal, and Anil Vishwakarma. They are being interrogated to determine links to other theft cases and possible accomplices.
Are the two suspects who fled still at large?
Yes, two suspects who were travelling in the second car fired at the police and fled the scene. Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vishwajeet Srivastava confirmed that a search operation is underway to trace and apprehend them.
