UP STF kills 4 criminals, including ₹1 lakh bounty-wanted and 3 associates in gunfight

In a significant operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), four criminals, including Arshad, a member of the Mustafa alias Kagga gang, were killed in a gunfight in the Jhijhana area of Shamli district. The STF received actionable intelligence from an informer, who alerted them about Arshad and his associates traveling through the area. Based on the tip-off, the STF swiftly set up a blockade along the route.

As the criminals approached the barricade, they opened fire on the STF personnel. The STF immediately returned fire, leading to an intense 30-minute gunfight. During the exchange, Arshad and three of his associates were injured and subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save them, doctors declared all four criminals dead. Arshad, who was on the run for several years, had numerous criminal charges against him, including robbery, dacoity, and murder. He was a prime suspect in a high-profile robbery case in Behat police station, Saharanpur, and had been wanted by the police for his involvement in over a dozen serious crimes.

The operation, which took place late at night, also resulted in injuries to STF Inspector Sunil, who was leading the team. Inspector Sunil sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the encounter and was initially admitted to Amritdhara Hospital in Karnal. He was later transferred to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for advanced treatment. The STF has confirmed the deaths of the four criminals and emphasized that the operation was a major success in curbing criminal activities in the region.