Two Killed, Multiple Injured in Deoria SUV Crash During Police Operation Against Alleged Animal Smugglers
A tragic incident unfolded late Friday night in the Gauri Bazaar area of Deoria district, resulting in two fatalities and multiple serious injuries. The crash occurred when an SUV, allegedly connected to an animal smuggling network, overturned while attempting to break through a police cordon.
Police Operation and High-Speed Chase
According to official reports, police teams led by SP North Gyanendra Kumar and SP South Dinesh Kumar Puri were conducting targeted vehicle checks in the Jhungia police station area. This operation was initiated based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of animal smugglers in the region.
During the checks, officers attempted to stop a suspicious pickup truck. Instead of complying, the driver accelerated and fled the scene. Police managed to apprehend one of the three occupants, while the other two escaped with the vehicle.
Escalation and Fatal Crash
Following this initial incident, an SUV that was trailing the pickup allegedly attempted to run over the police team before speeding away. Suspecting the occupants to be associates of the smugglers, authorities immediately alerted Deoria district police and launched a pursuit.
In response, Gauri Bazaar police established a strategic barricade along the busy Gorakhpur–Deoria highway. In a desperate attempt to evade capture, the SUV driver accelerated toward the cordon and attempted a sudden, sharp turn. This maneuver caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The SUV violently collided with a road divider near a local petrol pump and overturned completely, creating a scene of chaos and panic at the location.
Casualties and Ongoing Investigation
All injured individuals were urgently transported to Deoria Medical College for emergency treatment. Tragically, doctors pronounced two of the victims dead upon arrival. The remaining injured persons are hospitalized with serious conditions and are receiving medical care.
Police authorities have confirmed that the identities of both the deceased and the injured are currently being verified through official channels. Investigators are actively examining potential connections to an inter-state animal smuggling network, with initial suspicions pointing toward operations possibly originating from Bihar.
The individual arrested from the pickup truck is undergoing intensive interrogation as part of the broader investigation into this smuggling network and the events leading to the fatal crash.
