UP: Cop dies during encounter with criminal in Amroha

LUCKNOW: A constable suffered bullets injuries and died at the encounter spot during a fierce exchange of fire with a criminal in Amroha on Sunday night. The cop, Harsh Chaudhary, is the sixth man in khaki to be killed since the Yogi government began its ‘mission encounter’.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the cop’s family, pension to his wife and a job to kin.
Till January this year, 78 criminals have been snuffed out in over 3,000 encounters since the Yogi government took over reins.
Amroha police said the 2016 batch constable Harsh Chaudhary, 26, was a native of Bareilly and was deployed at Bachrayunn police station area.
At 6.30pm, a police team raided the house of the criminal, Shiv Pratap, in Indrapur area, 2km from Bachrayun police station, for a verification. Pratap is an accused in over 20 cases of loot, dacoity, extortion and murder, said SP Amroha, Vipin Tada.
Two teams were dispatched for the operation, one led by station officer, Bachrayunn, and another by a sub-inspector.
“Tipped off about police movement near his home, Pratap opened fire and a bullet hit the constable, but he continued to challenge the criminal till he slumped and died,” said Vipin Tada. Before Pratap was gunned down, at least seven rounds of fire were exchanged between police and the criminal.
“After the shelling stopped, we retrieved Chaudhary’s bullet-ridden body. The bodies were taken to hospital for autopsy,” said Tada.
Director General of Police OP Singh said constable Harsh’s death was a supreme sacrifice that won’t go waste. “We will do everything to ensure that this brave cop is honoured and remembered,” he told TOI late on Sunday night.
Anand Kumar, ADG law and order, said human right activists should now take note of the martyrdom of policemen. “Will they take up Chaudhary’s case and fight for his rights,” he asked.