Wanted criminal gunned down in Sant Gyaneshwar murder case

Jaunpur, Feb 23 (UNI) Special Task Force (STF) sleuths of the Uttar Pradesh Police here today gunned down a notorious criminal, carrying a reward of Rs 10,000 on his head, in the Sant Gyaneshwar murder case.

The criminal was identified as Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Dabbu Singh, of Bardah area in Azamgarh district.

However, his accomplice managed to escape, the police said.

Dabbu had arrived in Jaunpur district to fetch Rs 5 lakh promised as 'supari' (money for contract killing) for killing the Sant and his supporters near Handia in Allahabad on February 10 last.

Acting on a tip off, the police spotted Dabbu and his aide a motorcycle around 0530 hrs near Raja Sahab Pond here.

When pursued, the two allegedly fired at the police and in the ensuing encounter Dabbu was killed on the spot.

Police recovered a US-made 9 mm pistol, a countrymade firearm and several live cartridges from the spot.

He had at least 11 cases of heinous crimes including murder and loot registered against him in Azamgarh, Jaunpur and Allahabad districts.

According to police, Dabbu's links with several influential people was also being probed.

Meanwhile, the IG, DIG and SP announced a reward of Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,5000 respectively to the police team, that also comprised sleuths drawn from Allahabad, Jaunpur and Special Operation Group (SOG).

Sant Gyaneshwar and his seven pupils were gunned down by mitreants armed with sophisticated weapons when he was returning from the Magh Mela, Allahabad.

The assailants had fled the scene after deserting a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Later, a case was registered at Handia police station against four people including a Sanajawadi party legislators, from Isauli in Sultanpur, Chandra Bhadra Singh and his brother S Bhandra Singh.

On February 20, the police arrested another notorious criminal, Akhilesh, in the same muder case.

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