In Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, Mohammad Zahid, the prime accused in the murder of two Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables, Javed Khan and Pramod Kumar, was killed in an encounter. Zahid was shot during a joint operation conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) Noida unit and Ghazipur Police. Despite being rushed to the hospital in an injured state, doctors declared him dead. A reward of ₹1 lakh had been announced for his capture.
Zahid’s Criminal Background and Police Operation
Mohammad Zahid was associated with a gang involved in liquor smuggling. He was critically injured during the encounter that took place in the Dildarnagar area of Ghazipur. This encounter came after he had killed the two RPF constables by throwing them off a moving train during an operation to stop illegal liquor smuggling on the Barmer-Guwahati Express on the night of August 19-20. Following this, Zahid had been on the run, and the police declared a reward for his arrest.
Details from the STF ADG
According to Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (ADG) of the STF, the incident on August 19-20 involved the brutal murder of constables Javed Khan and Pramod Kumar, who were trying to prevent liquor smuggling on the Barmer-Guwahati Express (Train No. 15631). Zahid and his associates mercilessly beat the constables and threw them from the moving train, resulting in their deaths.
Zahid’s Past Crimes
Zahid, a native of Phulwari Sharif in Patna, Bihar, had multiple cases against him, including kidnapping, assault, and liquor smuggling. After a prolonged manhunt, he was tracked down in Ghazipur, where he was critically wounded in the encounter and later succumbed to his injuries. An illegal .32 bore pistol, two empty cartridges, and a bag containing illicit country-made liquor were recovered from him.
Connection to Bihar Liquor Mafia
The investigation into the murder revealed that Zahid and his gang were connected to Bihar’s liquor mafia. During the joint operation, six suspects involved in the killing were apprehended. Earlier, the bodies of the RPF constables had been found at separate locations along the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay-Danapur railway line.
Arrests in the Case
In total, six individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. Premchand Verma, a resident of Bihta, Patna, was apprehended after a shootout on August 28. Other arrested individuals include Vinay, Pankaj, Bilendra Pasi, Ravi Kumar, and Ravi, son of Bindeshwari. The recent encounter marks the end of Zahid’s criminal activities as part of the joint efforts by the STF and Ghazipur police.
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