UP: Highway robbery mastermind shot dead in police encounter

Naresh, the key accused in the sensational ₹2 crore highway robbery case that took place on September 30 near Makkhanpur, was killed in a police encounter on Sunday night near Halpura underpass, close to Banipur forest area along NH-19.

Naresh, a resident of Arni village in Khair, Aligarh district, had earlier escaped from police custody while being taken for the recovery of stolen cash. He had confessed to hiding nearly ₹20 lakh in a bag concealed in bushes along the highway. During the recovery operation, he tricked the police on the pretext of relieving himself and managed to flee.

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Following his escape, the Firozabad SSP launched a massive manhunt, forming four police teams and initiating an intensive checking and combing operation across the district.

A case under Section 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Makkhanpur police station, and a reward of ₹50,000 was announced for Naresh’s capture by the DIG, Agra Range.

On Sunday night, police traced Naresh near Banipur forest area. During an attempt to apprehend him, Naresh opened fire on the police, prompting retaliatory fire in which he sustained gunshot injuries. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

From Naresh’s possession, police recovered two pistols (.32 bore), one revolver, several cartridges, and a bag containing a substantial amount of cash. A forensic team is examining the contents of the bag. Further legal formalities are underway.