Gangster Mukhtar Ansari’s Close Aide Shoaib Kidwai Shot Dead In UP's Barabanki

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 19:23 IST

Shoaib Kidwai alias Bobby, aide of Mukhtar Ansari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Ayodhya highway in Barabanki.

Shoaib Kidwai, alias Bobby, a known aide of slain gangster Mukhtar Ansari, was shot dead in broad daylight by unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants on the Ayodhya highway in Barabanki. The incident took took place on Friday afternoon near Asaini turn under the Kotwali area.

Shoaib Kidwai, a resident of the Civil Lines area in the district town, was travelling in a car from Lucknow to Barabanki when two motorcycle-borne assailants intercepted his vehicle and opened fire. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Kidwai was accused in several criminal cases, including murder, extortion, and gang-related offences.

Kidwai’s name had earlier surfaced in the Lucknow jailer murder case, in which he was named as an accused by investigating agencies. Police said he had been facing multiple criminal cases and had long posed a law-and-order challenge.

Officials have indicated that early information points to potential internal rivalry and a gang war as the reasons behind the killing. This angle is also under investigation.

In response to the incident, security has been heightened throughout the district, with additional police personnel deployed in sensitive areas. Senior officers visited the crime scene and examined the location, while CCTV footage from nearby areas is being reviewed to identify the attackers.

Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya mentioned that the initial investigation suggests the attack was premeditated. A forensic team has gathered evidence, and raids are underway to apprehend the suspects, he added.

News india Gangster Mukhtar Ansari’s Close Aide Shoaib Kidwai Shot Dead In UP's Barabanki

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