GORAKHPUR: Wanted gangster Vijay Prajapati was shot dead in an encounter with the Gorakhpur police in the wee hours of Friday.
Carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh, Vijay had shot dead 16-year-old girl, Kajal Singh, in Gorakhpur last month. A resident of Gagha locality in Gorakhpur, Vijay had a dispute with Rajeev Nayan, an employee of the district court. On August 20, Vijay along with his four aides reached Rajeev’s house and started assaulting him.
‘Hunt on to nab gangster’s aide’
When Rajeev’s teenage daughter Kajal tried to capture the attack on her mobile, Vijay shot her. She was rushed to Lucknow's KGMU where she died on August 25. The incident prompted the police to launch a massive manhunt for Vijay. With at least eight cases of murder, loot and extortion pending against him since 2018, Vijay went underground with his associates. “At least a dozen police teams were pressed into service to nab him. We were getting tip-offs about his movement but he was constantly changing his hideouts,” said ADG Gorakhpur zone Akhil Kumar, who monitored the police action against Vijay.
SSP Gorakhpur Vipin Tada said during a routine checking of vehicles early Friday, police tried to intercept two persons on a motorcycle. “The duo tried to escape and when police chased them they opened fire. Police called back-up force and opened fire at the miscreants,” the SSP said. One miscreant, who was later identified as Vijay, suffered a gunshot wound while his associate managed to escape. The injured was taken to the Gagha CHC where doctors declared him dead.
Police are now searching for Vijay’s associate who managed to escape.
