Eight UP policemen killed as raiding party comes under fire in Kanpur; four injured

Expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today sought a report from the cops and directed DGP HC Awasthi to initiate strict action against the culprits.

Four policemen, who suffered bullet injuries, are undergoing treatment at a hospital in the city. (Express photo/Vishal Srivastava)

The incident took place when the police team visited Bikaru village in Chaubeypur police station area to arrest Vikas Dubey after lodging an attempt to murder case against him. Dubey, a history-sheeter, already has 50 cases registered against him.

At his residence, the assailants gheraoed them and started firing, Additional Superintendent of Police, Rural, Brijesh Srivastava, said.

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On getting information, an additional police team was rushed to the spot to rescue the cops. The injured policemen were taken to the hospital where doctors declared eight of them dead. The assailants managed to escape from the spot.

Senior police officials, including ADG Kanpur Zone Jai Narayan Singh and IG Kanpur Range Mohit Agarwal, also rushed to the spot. A forensic team also arrived to examine the area.

At his residence, the assailants gheraoed them and started firing, Additional Superintendent of Police, Rural, Brijesh Srivastava, said. (Express photo/Vishal Srivastava)

Hours later, Kanpur police claimed to have gunned down two criminals after a team reached Bikaru village for combing operation. A gun battle broke out between the assailants and the cops during which two criminals were injured. They were taken to the hospital where they were declared brought dead by the doctors.

Dubey’s maternal uncle Prem Prakash Pandey and his associate Atul Dubey were arrested, Jai Narain Singh, Additional Director General, Kanpur zone, said. Mishra was murdered inside Pandey’s residence inside the village, he added.

The police also claimed to have recovered a service pistol of a cop and a country-made pistol from their possession.

Among the deceased were Circle Officer, Bilhor, Devendra Kumar Mishra and Shivrajpur police station officer Mahesh Yadav. The remaining deceased were two sub-inspectors and four constables.

According to reports, Dubey is the head of his village and also a Zilla Panchayat member.