Lucknow: Anuj Kannaujia, a 50-year-old sharpshooter associated with the Mukhtar Ansari gang, was fatally shot during a police encounter late Saturday night. This incident occurred during a coordinated operation involving the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Jharkhand Police in Jamshedpur, according to an official report.
During the encounter, STF Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) DK Shahi sustained injuries.
“Based on intelligence received, the STF and Jharkhand police attempted to apprehend Anuj Kannaujia. However, he opened fire on the security forces. Kannaujia was killed in the ensuing crossfire,” stated Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (ADG) of the Uttar Pradesh STF.
Kannaujia had been evading capture for over five years and was wanted in connection with 23 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, land grabbing, and arms smuggling.
Recently, Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar raised the reward for information leading to his arrest from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh in an effort to locate him.
“The operation was initiated based on precise intelligence regarding Kannaujia’s presence in Jamshedpur. As the police team moved in to detain him, Kannaujia fired approximately 20 rounds and even threw a bomb in an attempt to flee. This prompted the security forces to return fire, resulting in a fierce gunfight. During this exchange, DySP DK Shahi was shot in the shoulder but continued to lead the operation. Ultimately, Kannaujia was neutralized after suffering multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” added the Uttar Pradesh STF ADG.
In the aftermath of the encounter, authorities recovered two pistols, a significant quantity of live ammunition, and mobile phones from the scene.
The mobile devices are currently under investigation for potential connections to his criminal network, as reported by an officer involved in the case.
A resident of Bahlolpur village in Chiraiyakot, Mau, Kannaujia had a notorious history of violent offenses and was regarded as one of the most feared members of the Mukhtar Ansari gang.
His criminal history encompassed various districts, with six cases filed at the Kotwali police station in Mau, five in Rani Ki Sarai, two in Dakshin Tola, and three in Chiraiyakot, in addition to several others in Ghazipur and Azamgarh, according to the official.
In recent years, law enforcement has heightened efforts to target Kannaujia and his associates.
As part of a statewide initiative against organized crime, authorities demolished his residence in Azamgarh with a bulldozer, while his family members were charged under the Gangster Act and incarcerated, the officer reported.
