UP hikes reward on Thokia's head

Lucknow, Jan 21 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government today hiked the reward on the head of dreaded dacoit Ambika Patel alias Doctor alias Thokia.

State Principal Secretary (Home) J N Chamber here said the government have decided to increase the reward on Thokia's head from the present amount of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh as part of its efforts to re-enforce Anti-dacoit operations.

On July 23 last year, six jawans of the UP's Special Task Force and a police informer were killed, four jawans and another informer injured when the Thokia gang ambushed them. The incident occurred a night after the STF gunned down dacoit Dadua and nine of his associates in an encounter.

Thokia is not like other dacoits of Bundelkhand. Thokia formed his gang in 2001, and runs it like a corporate house. He pays salaries to his employees (dacoits) after reviewing their performance periodically.

Thokia's armoury has Russian-made binoculars, electronic gadgets, mobiles and sophisticated weapons. The 35-year-old dreaded dacoit has unleashed terror in over 110 villages along UP-MP border for the past seven years.

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