Ghazipur Encounter: A suspected liquor smuggler allegedly involved in the murder of two Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel last month was killed on Tuesday during an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Police in the Ghazipur district. The suspect identified as Mohammad Zahid, alias Sonu sustained severe injuries in the gunfight that took place on Monday night.
Zahid was reportedly declared dead at the district hospital in Ghazipur in the early hours of Tuesday. According to Additional Director General Amitabh Yash, the Noida unit of UP Special Task Force and the local Ghazipur Police team were part of the operation.
Ghazipur Superintendent of Police Iraj Raja stated that Zahid, also known as Sonu, a resident of Patna, sustained injuries during the encounter. The incident also resulted in injuries to two police personnel.
"Zahid was the main conspirator of the August 19-20 incident. We had received inputs about him again trying to smuggle liquor on the same route near Dildarnagar. A team of the Ghazipur Police and the Noida unit of STF rounded up Zahid, ensuing a gunbattle in which he suffered severe injuries. Two policemen also suffered injuries," Raja was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
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Death of Two RPF Constables
Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables Javed Khan and Pramod Kumar lost their lives while attempting to intercept illegal liquor smuggling on the Barmer Guwahati Express. During the night of August 19-20, the constables were violently attacked by the smugglers, who not only assaulted them but also threw them off the moving train, leading to their deaths. This brutal act has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the safety of Railway professionals.
The suspect Mohammad Zahid had been absconding since the incident and was declared wanted with a reward of Rs 1 lakh for his capture.
Earlier on Monday, a second accused in the Sultanpur jewellery store robbery case was gunned down in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force. The encounter took place in the Achalganj police station area of Unnao district.