As of Monday, 23rd September 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Police has announced that it has shot dead a second or additional suspect in the Sultanpur jewellery store robbery case who had a gun in her hands in Unnao district.
“On the fateful day, retaliatory fire was opened by the accused Anuj Pratap Singh and that of the Special Task Force Lucknow unit at around 4 a.m. on September 23, 2024 in the Achalganj locality.”
On August 28, however, a theft in the Thatheri market area in Sultanpur city left the owners with a loss of jewellery worth approximately ₹1.5 crore.
The STF had shot Mangesh Yadav who also figured in the case details on September 5. The police action stirred an instant political storm with the Samajwadi and the Congress Party denouncing the clamp down as a “fake encounter.” According to SP president and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, the operation was driven primarily by the ‘caste’ of the people while the State harmful police denied those accusations.
“An STF team from Lucknow came into an encounter with some of the villagers involved in the robbery that took place at Bharat Jewellers in the Sultanpur in Achalganj police station area of Unnao on Monday morning. One criminal was hit, while another in the exchange managed to flee,” Additional Director General of Police, STF and Law Order Amitabh Yash, said at a briefing.
He said that the government’s referral being Amethi Anuj Pratap Singh a resident of Janapur was later word on the ambulance for primary care and later sent to the district hospital.
“Anuj Pratap Singh reached district hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Further more activities of forensic team with legal measures are in progress under the supervision of Achalganj police,” the officer furthered.
Singh has a criminal background as revealed by SP, Unnao Deepak Bhuker. For information leading to the arrest of Singh, a reward of rupees one lakh was announced by the police.
‘His possession consisted of two pistols, seven empty cartridges, three revolver rounds cartridges and a bag packed with silver jewels. There was also a motorcycle that was siezed at the scene of the engagement on the part of the SP at the police,’ he said.
