Police uses grenade to eliminate Dadua, aides in fierce encounter

Chitrakoot/Fatehpur/Lucknow, July 22 (UNI) The Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police today ended the thirty-year- long reign of terror in jungles of Chitrakoot bordering Madhya Pradesh, of forest brigand Shiv Kumar Patel alias Dadua by killing him and nine of his men in a fierce encounter.

State Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh said police was given a ''free hand'' by Chief Minister Mayawati to deal with the dacoits. ''Police got never before freedom to operate in this government,'' he added.

The STF had started searching the jungles of Chitrakoot late last night. While four members of his gang were eliminated last night in the Kusmahi area, the major achievement came this morning when the 65-year-old dacoit was killed. While the dacoits perched on a high ground, a crack team of STF used hand grenades to eliminate UP's Veerappan. After lobbing a few grenades, when the cops reached the spot, they found Dadua and five men of his men laying lifeless scattered in the area.

Besides Dadua, his close aides Angad, Chotta Patel and Nandu were also killed. ''We had information of his presence...Dadua and his men were killed in retaliatory firing,'' SP (STF) Anant Deo, who was at the encounter site, told UNI.

Since police had a 25-year-old photo of the dreaded dacoit, villagers, victims of the dacoit, police informer and village elders helped cops identify the dead dacoit as Dadua. ''I found a gush on his left cheek, which further helped us identify him,'' the DGP said.

He said his body will be preserved for three days and if need be a DNA test would be carried out to clear any doubts about the brigand's identity.

While no AK series assault rifle was found, police did collect some live cartridges of AK 47. A Springfield rifle once used by the US Army, several mobile phones and chargers were also recovered from the encounter spot.

The DGP disclosed that the dacoits used plastice insulated tents to survive in the jungles. ''The tents were so well camouflaged that they could not be detected during helicopter surveillance,'' he added.

The government, meanwhile has announced a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh for the STF team involved in the encounter. Out of turn promotions, certificates of appreciation and gallantary awards will also come in way for the officials and constables of STF.

Dadua was carrying a total bounty of Rs 5 lakh -- announced by the UP and MP police -- on his head.

While he was wanted by UP police in over 150 cases of dacoity, kidnapping and murder, the neighbouring MP police had charged him with 35 cases.

Dadua's area of influence was spread across Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Allahabad, Banda and Kaushambi districts of UP and Rewa, Satna and Panna district of Madhya Pradesh.

Despite around 50 encounters with the state police in the past several years, Dadua roamed freely and mingled with the locals who referred to him as 'Bhaiyya'. He is known to have helped several families with money and other means. This often helped him escape the police.

The only time he had been to jail was in the 1970s, reportedly for stealing a buffalo. He entered the world of crime following the murder of his kin.

Dressed in police uniforms, Dadua's 21-member gang was armed with various series of Kalashnikov rifles, self-loading rifles (SLRs) and the traditional bolt-action .303 rifles. Unconfirmed reports also claimed his gang also had access to a rocket launcher.

A politically ambitious person, Dadua had access to several politicians and even ministers. His younger sibling Bal Kumar contested the just-held assembly elections from Patti in Pratapgarh.

His son Veer Singh is the zila panchayat president of Chitrakoot.

UNI