Police teams in Ghazipur, probing the murder of a hotel owner, have turned their focus on Shanker Pandey, the leader of the Katra gang responsible for the killing. Pandey is now the prime target after police eliminated key gang member Kamlesh Chaudhary Bind (26) for his involvement in the murder of Vineet Rai.
Background of the Case
Advocate Alok Rai claimed that his son Vineet's murder was the result of a failed extortion attempt. The killing occurred on the night of May 29 at a hotel on Fullanpur Bypass Road under Kotwali police station in Ghazipur district. Following the murder and the exposure of Shankar Pandey and Kamlesh's involvement, ADG (Varanasi Zone) Piyush Mordia announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each for information leading to their arrest.
Encounter with Kamlesh Bind
On Wednesday night, the Special Operations Group gunned down Kamlesh near Kurtha village. Kamlesh had seven criminal cases registered against him between 2017 and 2026, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, assault, criminal intimidation, and violations of the Arms Act.
Police Efforts to Arrest Pandey
SP Ghazipur Iraj Raja stated on Thursday that teams are working round the clock to arrest Pandey. Although no complaints have been received against him since his release from jail in October 2025, it is suspected that he orchestrated the plan to kill hotel owner Vineet Rai on May 29 night.
Pandey's Criminal History
In police records, the first case against Pandey was registered when he was just 17 years old. He has a total of seven criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, rioting, and offenses under the Arms Act and Excise Act. However, the SP did not link him to the Mukhtar Ansari gang. Locals revealed that as an adolescent, Pandey led a group that helped resolve disputes among students. Later, his group members became involved in land disputes, and he eventually associated with a criminal gang. Along with Kamlesh and other members, he formed the Katra gang, named after a particular lane of shops where they used to gather.
Rise of the Katra Gang
In March 2023, Mukhtar Ansari died, and police intensified their drive to dismantle his gang and destroy his economic empire. This created a void that many petty criminals sought to fill, and the Katra gang led by Pandey gained notoriety. In September 2024, Pandey, Kamlesh, and their aides assaulted a youth named Vipin in full public view, attempted to kidnap a cloth merchant, and threatened to kill him. SP Iraj Raja recalled that Pandey was imprisoned for almost a year following that incident.
Recent Activities
After December 2025, the Katra gang began to gain notoriety, though it had not been involved in any major crime like the sensational murder of Vineet Rai until now.
