• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Surya murder main accused Asad killed in encounter.
  2. Asad, with Rs 50,000 reward, died during treatment.
  3. Police recovered motorcycle and weapon from scene.

A police encounter took place early Sunday morning in connection with the murder of a young man in the Khoda police station area of Ghaziabad. One of the main accused, Asad, who carried a Rs 50,000 reward on his arrest, was shot during the exchange of fire with the police and later died during treatment. His accomplice managed to escape and is currently being searched for.

"The main accused in the stabbing murder of 17-year-old Surya Pratap Chauhan, and Asad, son of Nawab r/o Madarsa Wali Gali, Thana Khoda, Ghaziabad--with a bounty of 50 thousand rupees--has been killed in an encounter with Thana Khoda and Indirapuram police," Ghaziabad police wrote on X.

According to ACP Indirapuram Abhishek Srivastava, Asad was among those accused of murdering a youth named Surya in Navneet Vihar Colony on May 28, coinciding with the Bakrid festival. 

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Acting on intelligence inputs, police teams were conducting vehicle checks in the Vasundhara area late Saturday night when Asad and another suspect appeared. When officers signalled them to stop, the accused allegedly opened fire on the police. In retaliatory firing, Asad was injured, while his associate fled the scene. He was taken to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

"Today, the police team received information that Asad was going to meet some of his friends in the Khoda police station area and was planning to escape after taking some money from them. Based on this information, the entire team combed the entire area and set up checkpoints. In this sequence, Asad and one of his friends are seen arriving here on a bike. The police team attempts to stop them and warn them, but instead of stopping, they open fire on the police team. In the retaliatory fire, the police fire in self-defence, in which Asad is shot," ANI quoted DCP Dhawal Jaiswal.

According to the officials, a motorcycle used by Asad and a weapon were recovered from the encounter site.

What Led to the Murder?

Surya's friend Vicky alleged that on the afternoon of Bakrid, Asad and his associates were standing near a banana warehouse when they confronted Surya. During the interaction, Asad allegedly asked him, "Have you ever seen a goat being slaughtered?" When Surya replied in the negative and began walking away, the accused reportedly started abusing him. When he objected, Asad and his associates allegedly attacked him with knives.

Surya attempted to escape after pushing Asad away, but the attackers allegedly chased him and stabbed him multiple times. Witnesses claim he ran nearly 200 metres with a knife lodged in his stomach before collapsing between Gali No. 1 and Gali No. 2. Hearing the commotion, his brother Yash rushed to the spot. With the help of residents, Surya was taken to a private hospital and later referred to a hospital in Noida due to the severity of his injuries. He died during treatment on Friday afternoon.

Following the incident, Yash lodged an FIR naming Asad and several others as accused in the case.

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Tension in the Area

Surya’s body was brought back home on Saturday and was visited by activists of different Hindu organisations. They were outraged at his murder. Considering the communal tensions, Sunday Bazaar Road was blocked by police, and the place was under a heavy police presence, with the DCP and ACP at the spot.

After learning about the police encounter, Surya's mother demanded similar action against all those involved in her son's murder. "I have only seen the encounter of one person. But I want to see the picture of Asad. I will be satisfied after I see the picture. Encountering others should also happen like this. Seven people did this to my son. Bulldozers should run over everyone's house," Surya’s mother said.

Political Reactions

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya declared that no one involved in killing Surya will be spared and added that the strictest punishment will be given according to law.  A case has been registered for five accused, with an investigation underway.


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