Uttar Pradesh: 1 police officer killed in an encounter in Chitrakoot forest, police claim one dacoit gunned down

A police officer was killed and one suffered bullet-injuries in a fierce gun-battle with a gang of dacoits in Uttar Pradesh’s Chitrakoot district on Thursday.

The Uttar Pradesh Police have claimed that a dacoit has been gunned down and at least five including the gang leader —  Babuli Kol — has suffered bullet injuries in Chitrakoot’s Nihichiraya forest, around 250 kilometers from state capital Lucknow.

“One of our officers suffered bullet injuries in the encounter with the dacoits. He later succumbed to his injuries,” said ADGP SN Sawant to media after the encounter.

He added that the police forces have gunned down one dacoit and at least five others have been injured in the encounter and a dacoit identified as Raju Kol has been arrested from the encounter site.

However, police have failed to recover the body of the killed dacoit or nab others.

The deceased police officer has been identified as sub-inspector Jai Prakash Singh, 44.

A senior police officer told the media that working on a tip off a police team launched search operation in Chitrakoot’s forest area to neutralise the Babuli Kol and his group.

Police said, the dacoits on siting the raiding team opened fire. The police team quickly taking position retaliated.

"More than 1000 rounds of bullet were exchanged during the gun-battle," said a police personnel part of the raiding team.

According to a senior police officer requesting anonymity said that Special Task Force has been rushed to the encounter site.

The dacoits taking benefit of the dense forest managed to escape. Police have launched a major search operation in the forested area to nab the dacoits.

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased police officer’s family and another Rs 5 Lakh for his parents.

(With inputs from Anil Yadav and Dipesh Tripathi)