Vijay Chaudhary, alias Usman, the sharpshooter of the Atiq gang who fired the first shot at Umesh Pal, a key witness in the killing of former Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Raju Pal, was gunned down by the Special Operation Group (SOG) team in an encounter in Lalapur village in Prayagrajj early on Monday.
On a tip-off, the SOG had reached Lalapur and asked Usman to surrender, but he opened fire at the team which retaliated in which Usman received gunshots. He suffered bullet injuries in his neck, chest and thigh during the encounter. He was rushed to SRN Hospital of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Sharpshooter who fired first bullet at Umesh Pal shot in police encounter Usman was hit by bullets in and collapsed on the ground.
A police constable, Narendra, too was injured in the exchange of fire with Usmaan.
He has been admitted to the local community health centre, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar told reporters.
The encounter took place between Gothi and Belwa under Kaundhiyara police station area around 5.30 am, according to Dhoomanganj Station House Officer Rajesh Kumar Maurya.
Usman was seen firing the first bullet from his pistol aiming at Umesh Pal in the CCTV footage, and a reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced on him
A video of the killing of Umesh Pal in broad daylight had gone viral on social media and raised questions about law and order in Uttar Pradesh. Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vowed in the state assembly that he would destroy the mafia in the state.
ADG Kumar said, “A shooter involved in the February 24 incident was injured in an encounter with police in Prayagraj. He was rushed for treatment to a hospital, where he died.”