Sultanpur robbery case: UP STF guns down accused Anuj Pratap Singh in encounter

Lucknow/Unnao: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday said it has gunned down a second accused in the Sultanpur jewellery store robbery case in a pre-dawn encounter in Unnao district.

The gunfight between the accused, Anuj Pratap Singh, and the Lucknow unit of the Special Task Force (STF) broke out around 4 am on Monday in the Achalganj area, officials said.

On August 28, jewellery worth approximately Rs 1.5 crore was stolen from a store in the Thatheri market area of Sultanpur city.

The STF had gunned down Mangesh Yadav, another accused in the case, on September 5. The killing sparked a political controversy with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress calling the encounter "fake".

SP chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had alleged that the action was based on the "caste" of the accused while the state police denied all such claims.

"An STF team from Lucknow engaged in an encounter with some accused involved in the robbery at Bharat Jewellers in Sultanpur in the Achalganj police station area of Unnao on Monday morning. One criminal was injured while another managed to escape," Additional Director General of Police (STF and Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said.

He said Anuj Pratap Singh, a resident of Janapur village in Amethi district, was taken to a government hospital in an ambulance for initial treatment and was subsequently referred to the district hospital.

"Anuj Pratap Singh was declared dead by doctors at the district hospital. Further legal proceedings are being conducted by the forensics team and the Achalganj police," the officer added.

Police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to Singh's arrest.

Superintendent of Police, Unnao, Deepak Bhuker said Singh had a criminal record.

"Two pistols, seven empty cartridges, three live cartridges and a bag containing silver jewellery were recovered from his possession. A motorcycle was also impounded from the encounter site," Bhuker said.

Sultanpur Superintendent of Police Somen Barma said that during the investigation of the robbery case, the names of 14 accused came to light, out of which police have taken action against 11.

He said searches are being carried out to nab the remaining three accused -- Arbaaz, Furkan and Ankit Yadav.

"One of these 11 accused was Anuj Pratap Singh, who died today in an encounter with the STF in Unnao district. Singh was one of the five accused who carried out the robbery by entering the jewellery shop," he said.

"Even before this, Singh had committed a bank robbery in Surat, Gujarat and had gone to jail in the case," he added.

All the gold jewellery that was looted, which is about 2.6 kg, has been recovered. Police have also recovered 30 kg of silver jewellery, Barma said.