UP Police Shoot Dead Prime Accused in Lucknow Builder’s Murder

Lucknow (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Police early Saturday shot dead a notorious criminal carrying a Rs 1 lakh bounty after he opened fire on a team attempting to arrest him, officials said. The criminal, identified as Sanjay alias Sanjeev, was the prime accused in the May 27 murder of builder Sandeep Singh in Lucknow’s PGI area.

Sanjeev, a native of Ambedkar Nagar district, faced multiple charges for serious crimes—including several murders—across Ambedkar Nagar, Basti, and Ayodhya districts. Police had been hunting him for weeks following the builder’s slaying.

The Encounter on Indira Canal Road

The shootout occurred on Indira Canal Road during a police operation to track and arrest the fugitive.

• The Confrontation: Police intercepted Sanjeev in the early hours of Saturday. Instead of surrendering, he opened fire on the officers.
• The Retaliation: Police fired back in self-defense, wounding Sanjeev.
• The Outcome: Authorities rushed him to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Contract Killing Over Property Dispute

The murder of builder Sandeep Singh had triggered widespread attention across Uttar Pradesh due to its links to a bitter property dispute.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) revealed that a long-standing enmity sparked the killing. Investigators allege that the perpetrators ordered a Rs 5 lakh contract hit to eliminate the builder.

While police had already arrested several co-conspirators, Sanjeev had managed to evade a massive manhunt until Saturday morning. Officials confirmed that the alleged mastermind behind the murder, Dinesh Yadav, is already behind bars.