In a dramatic turn of events, a wanted gangster accused in the horrific gangrape of two minor girls was killed in an alleged police encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district early Monday morning. The joint operation by Sultanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri police culminated in the death of Talib, also known as Azam Khan, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on his head.
The Heinous Crime and Initial Investigation
The case dates back to December 15, when two minor girls were on their way to tuition classes on bicycles in Lakhimpur Kheri. Around 6:30 AM, three accused individuals waylaid the girls, forcibly dragged them to a nearby sugarcane field, and allegedly gangraped them before fleeing the scene. A devastated family lodged a formal complaint, leading to the registration of an FIR.
Based on the physical descriptions provided by the survivors and subsequent intelligence gathering, the police identified the three perpetrators as Talib alias Azam Khan, Salman, and Mukhtar. Azam, the main accused, was a notorious figure from Lakhimpur Kheri with a staggering 17 criminal cases already registered against him at various police stations in the district.
The Manhunt and Arrest of Accomplices
The police launched an intensive manhunt. Their first breakthrough came on December 20, when a tip-off about the movement of accomplices Salman and Mukhtar led to a trap. The duo allegedly opened fire when confronted by police, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Both sustained gunshot injuries to their legs and were subsequently arrested.
During interrogation, Salman and Mukhtar revealed crucial information about the whereabouts of the prime accused, Azam. This intelligence prompted the Lakhimpur Kheri police to seek assistance from their counterparts in Sultanpur district to track down the fugitive gangster.
The Final Showdown and Encounter
Acting on specific information about Azam's movement within the jurisdiction of Sultanpur's Lambhua police station, a joint team from Sultanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri police cordoned off the area. Kunwar Anupam Singh, the Sultanpur Superintendent of Police (SP), stated that upon realizing he was surrounded, Azam opened fire at the police team with the intent to kill.
In what the police described as an act of self-defence, the team retaliated. The gangster was injured in the ensuing shootout. He was immediately rushed to a hospital for medical treatment, where doctors declared him dead. The police spokesperson confirmed that Azam's reward had been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh after his involvement in the gangrape case.
This encounter marks a significant conclusion to a high-profile manhunt for a criminal involved in a deeply disturbing crime against minors, bringing a tense chapter to a close for the Uttar Pradesh Police.
