A wanted criminal, Jitendra alias Dhalu, was killed in an encounter with the police in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district. Dhalu carried a reward of Rs 50,000 announced by the police and was wanted in several robbery cases in the district. During the exchange of fire, a sub-inspector and a constable were also injured. Dhalu was rushed to the district hospital after being shot, where doctors declared him dead. The injured sub-inspector and constable are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Police have taken custody of the deceased criminal's body and launched an investigation. Some jewellery and an automatic pistol were also recovered from the spot.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Police had received intelligence that Dhalu would be passing through the Civil Lines Kotwali area on the Badaun-Bijnor highway. The encounter took place near a proposed jail in Baheri village. When police tried to stop him during checking, Dhalu opened fire directly at the police team. Officers fired back, and Dhalu was seriously wounded in the retaliatory firing. He was immediately taken to the district hospital, where doctors examined him and declared him dead.
The Rs 19 Lakh Dacoity That Started It All, 112 Days Ago
The case traces back to a major dacoity committed 112 days earlier. On the night of May 19, more than a dozen criminals raided the house of a man named Nijakat in Islamnagar qasba and looted around Rs 19 lakh in cash and jewellery. During the robbery, the criminals also assaulted Nijakat, his daughter-in-law, his nephew and other family members. Following the incident, police launched a manhunt for the culprits. During an encounter on May 26, police arrested five criminals, three of whom were injured by gunfire. Two more criminals were later arrested and sent to jail, but the main accused, Jitendra alias Dhalu, managed to evade capture. The DIG of Bareilly range subsequently announced a reward of Rs 50,000 on him.
Who Was Jitendra Alias Dhalu
Jitendra alias Dhalu originally hailed from village Bachhera under Dhaulana police station in Hapur district. For the past few years, he had been living in village Janeta under Baniyather police station in Sambhal district, from where he carried out robberies. He was wanted in three dacoity cases registered in Badaun district. The Deputy Inspector General of Police for Bareilly range had declared a reward of Rs 50,000 on Jitendra alias Jeetu. The slain criminal had close to a dozen cases registered against him under serious sections related to robbery and dacoity. He had carried out crimes in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Amroha, Badaun and other districts.
SSP Explains How the Pistol and Jewellery Were Recovered
According to Badaun SSP Ankita Sharma, a police informer had tipped them off that the wanted criminal was near the proposed jail on a motorcycle, allegedly planning to commit a crime. A police team then cordoned off the area. As soon as he was surrounded, the criminal opened fire on the police, injuring Shekhupur outpost in-charge Neeraj and constable Avinash. Police fired back, wounding the criminal in the process. He was arrested and taken to the district hospital, where doctors examined him and declared him dead. The SSP said the criminal had more than a dozen cases registered against him across districts including Badaun, Sambhal, Amroha and Hapur. Police recovered an automatic pistol, a motorcycle and some of the jewellery stolen during the dacoity from his possession.
