Wanted criminal with Rs 1 Lakh bounty killed in STF encounter in Azamgarh

LUCKNOW: The Special Task Force (STF) of UP police on Saturday killed gangster, Shankar Kanaujia, during an armed encounter in Azamgarh district. Kanaujia, carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on any information leading to his arrest, was wanted in multiple cases of loot and murder, including two gruesome killings involving beheadings.Additional DG, Law and Order, Amitabh Yash, said that information was received on August 23 that Kanaujia, along with his gang members, was planning a major crime in the Azamgarh region.Acting swiftly, a team led by Inspector Puneet Singh Parihar laid a trap in Jahanaganj police station area. When the team attempted to arrest him, Kanaujia allegedly opened fire with intent to kill the policemen. The STF personnel narrowly escaped, and in retaliatory fire, the gangster sustained bullet injuries.He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment and declared dead. From the spot, police recovered a 9mm carbine, a 9mm pistol, a khukri, and a large cache of live and spent cartridges,said Yash. Police records show that Kanaujia had been absconding since 2011, when he and his associates brutally murdered a man named Vindhyachal Pandey during a loot in Dohrighat area, slitting his throat before fleeing. Despite being on the run, he continued committing violent crimes. In July 2024, he allegedly kidnapped Shailendra Singh of Maharajganj, looted his loader vehicle, and killed him in a similar brutal manner, severing his head from the body.Following this crime, a reward of ₹1 lakh was announced on him.STF officials said efforts are underway to trace his other criminal involvements and identify remaining gang members.Further legal proceedings are in progress.