Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): A wanted contract killer carrying a reward of ₹1 lakh was shot dead in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Tuesday night, police officials confirmed.
The encounter took place on the Bariyasanpur Ring Road under the Chaubepur area when an STF team moved in to arrest Banarasi Yadav, an alleged sharpshooter accused in the murder of fertiliser trader Mahendra Gautam. According to Additional Director General of Police (STF) Amitabh Yash, the accused opened fire while attempting to evade arrest, prompting retaliatory action by the STF.
During the exchange of gunfire, Yadav sustained critical bullet injuries and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead by doctors.
Police said two pistols along with a large cache of live cartridges were recovered from the spot. Preliminary records indicate that Yadav had more than two dozen criminal cases registered against him across various districts.
In connection with the fertiliser trader’s murder, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as the SC/ST Act at the Sarnath police station.
Officials also revealed that another accused in the case, identified as Arvind Yadav, also known as Fauji or Kallu Yadav, a resident of Ghazipur district, is currently on the run. Police teams are conducting raids at multiple suspected locations to trace and arrest him.
Authorities said further legal procedures are underway and the entire incident is being investigated as per established protocol.
