What happened to the accused in the Lucknow toddler rape case?

Synopsis
A tragic incident in Lucknow has led to the death of a man accused of a heinous crime against a young child. As police work to unravel the details, the story raises questions about safety and justice.
Key Takeaways
- Deepak Verma was identified as a habitual offender.
- A Rs 1 lakh reward was offered for information leading to his capture.
- The girl was found unconscious under a metro bridge.
- Police acted swiftly by forming five teams after the incident.
- The case highlights the urgent need for child safety measures.
Lucknow, June 6 (NationPress) A man accused of kidnapping and sexual assault of a three-year-old girl in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead during an encounter with law enforcement on Friday.
The suspect has been named as Deepak Verma by the authorities after reviewing CCTV footage that captured him with the victim.
Officials noted that Verma was a repeat offender with a history of criminal charges filed at various police stations in the city. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) Ashish Srivastava stated that five police teams were promptly assembled following the report of the incident, and a reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced for information leading to his capture.
After identifying him via CCTV evidence, police traced his scooter's registration details. Subsequently, with a tip-off, they managed to intercept Verma near Devi Kheda in the Cantonment area early Friday.
“Upon being ordered to surrender, he fired at the police team. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, he was injured,” explained Srivastava.
The DCP elaborated on the case, stating, “On the morning of June 5, at 10 a.m., a report was made that a 2.5-year-old girl had been assaulted. A case was registered and five teams were immediately deployed. Based on the scooter's CCTV footage, we identified the suspect as Deepak Verma. A proposal was made to the Commissioner of Police for a reward of Rs 1 lakh. Within 20 hours, the police engaged in an encounter with him.”
The accused was severely injured and transported to a hospital for medical care, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries.
The three-year-old girl was reportedly abducted, assaulted, and later found abandoned in an unconscious state beneath a metro bridge, as per police reports from Thursday.
The incident took place in the Alambagh area of Lucknow. The girl resided near the Chandanagar Metro Station with her family. When her parents could not locate her in the morning, they began searching for their daughter. Eventually, the toddler was discovered unconscious under the metro bridge.
The parents rushed the girl to Lok Bandhu Hospital and subsequently filed a police report at the Alambagh Police Station. In response to the information received, police arrived promptly and commenced their investigation.