Lucknow: Anuj Kanaujia, a 50-year-old sharpshooter from the Mukhtar Ansari gang, was shot dead in a police encounter in Jamshedpur on Saturday night, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) confirmed.
Police Operation and Encounter Details
A joint operation by the UP STF Gorakhpur unit and Jharkhand Police targeted Kanaujia based on specific intelligence inputs. As security forces attempted to apprehend him, he opened fire, shooting nearly 20 rounds and throwing a bomb to escape. This triggered a high-intensity gunfight.
During the encounter, STF Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) DK Shahi sustained a shoulder gunshot injury but continued leading the operation. Kanaujia was neutralized after sustaining multiple bullet wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival, according to Additional Director General (ADG) of Law and Order, Amitabh Yash.
Criminal Background and Bounty
Kanaujia had been on the run for over five years, with 23 criminal cases against him, including murder, extortion, land grabbing, and arms smuggling. UP DGP Prashant Kumar had recently increased his bounty from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh to aid in his capture.
Police Seizure and Investigation
Following the encounter, police recovered:
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Two pistols
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A large cache of live cartridges
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Multiple mobile phones
Authorities are now examining the mobile phones for leads on his criminal network.
Crackdown on Kanaujia’s Network
Kanaujia, originally from Bahlolpur village in Chiraiyakot, Mau, was one of the most feared members of the Mukhtar Ansari gang. He had active cases in Mau, Ghazipur, and Azamgarh, including:
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Six cases in Mau’s Kotwali police station
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Five in Rani Ki Sarai
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Two in Dakshin Tola
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Three in Chiraiyakot
As part of UP’s anti-mafia drive, police had earlier demolished his Azamgarh house with a bulldozer and jailed several of his family members under the Gangster Act.
