Rampur police on Friday shot dead a man wanted in connection with the killing of a 19-year-old youth in Gorakhpur’s Pipraich area on September 16, officials said.
The man, identified as Jubair alias Kalia, had Rs1 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest after being declared absconding in the September 16 incident, in which Deepak Gupta, 19, who was preparing for the NEET exam, was injured when chasing alleged cattle smugglers. He later died during treatment at a hospital.
The police said they received a tip-off that Jubair was in the Ganj area. Officers said an exchange of fire took place when they attempted to apprehend him. Jubair was critically wounded and later died at a hospital, they added.
Two policemen were also injured in the shootout, officials added.
According to police, Jubair faced 18 cases, mainly in connection with cattle smuggling and violations of laws relating to cow slaughter, and that three of his brothers were already listed in local police records.
The arrest and killing come after a string of actions across the region. The Gorakhpur police, working with their counterparts in Kushinagar, had earlier arrested four suspects in connection with the case following clashes in the area.
More than 35 policemen, including station house officers (SHOs) in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar, have been suspended or removed from their posts amid criticism that local law enforcement failed to check the movement of smuggling networks, officials said.
Story continues below this ad
The September 16 incident had sparked tension in the area. Police say a group of alleged cattle smugglers in two pickup vans were confronted by residents after being seen removing cattle. When the villagers pursued them, Deepak chased one of the vehicles on a two-wheeler and was allegedly dragged into a van. He was later found injured on the roadside.
Locals staged violent protests after the episode, and one of the men caught by the villagers was rescued by police in a critically injured condition. He later died in hospital, officials had said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had met Deepak Gupta’s family in Gorakhpur and directed stricter action against those involved.
Police have said they are intensifying operations to dismantle cattle-smuggling networks, and investigations into the Gorakhpur killing and related incidents are going on.
