AGRA: A wanted criminal carrying a reward of Rs 75,000 was shot dead in an encounter with Agra police on Monday after he escaped from custody by snatching a revolver from a cop. He was being taken to his accomplice’s house to recover weapons when the incident happened.
As per information provided by UP police, so far 146 criminals have been killed and 3389 injured in encounters with the police since March 2017 and the force has lost 13 of its personnel in such incidents. Giving details of the encounters in the state, ADG (law and Order) Prashant Kumar said that 61 criminals have been killed in Meerut, 18 in Agra, 14 in Varanasi, 10 in Lucknow, 8 in Kanpur zone.
According to police, Mukesh Thakur, 44, who hailed from Rajasthan’s Baseri, had looted a petrol pump in Agra’s Iradat Nagar in February this year. The suspect who was later surrounded by police, used the revolver to allegedly fire 6-7 rounds at the police party.
At least 40 criminal cases are registered against Thakur for murder, kidnapping for ransom, robbery at various police stations in UP and Rajasthan. He was involved in contract killing, said police. In February 2021, the then IG (Agra range) had declared Rs 50,000 for his arrest and Rs 25 K was declared by the Additional Director General of Police, Rajasthan.
During interrogation, Thakur revealed that he was planning to murder someone and was going to his accomplice’s house to collect weapon. When a team of police personnel were taking Rahul to his accomplice’s house on Monday morning around 3:30 am, he pushed one policeman in the vehicle and snatched the service revolver and escaped from their custody. At least 12 police personnel in two vehicles were escorting him when he fled.
Immediately the news was flash on the control room and teams were formed to nab the accused. The police team surrounded him but he opened fire in a bid to escape. In retaliation, police also fired and he got injured during the encounter. He was taken to SN Medical College for treatment but doctors declared him brought dead.
Inspector general of Police (Agra range) Naveen Arora said that there was a tip off that Thakur had planned to commit a crime in Agra. His location was traced in the city. A police team of SOG and surveillance were keeping a tab on his movement through electronic surveillance.
When he was travelling with his accomplice Jitendra on Rohta road on Sunday around 12:10 am, he was arrested by the police team during vehicle checking after being identified by the informer. The duo was taken to Sadar police station for inquiry. Their motorcycle was also seized.
