Booze smuggler wanted for murder of 2 RPF constables killed in encounter with STF

Noida: A suspected liquor smuggler — wanted for the murder of two Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables last month — succumbed to injuries he suffered during an encounter with the UP Police in Ghazipur district on Monday.
Mohammad Zahid alias Sonu (25), who was from Patna, carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on his arrest. He had engaged in a gunfight with a police team late on Monday and suffered injuries.After initial treatment at a community centre, he was taken to district hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Zahid was one of seven liquor smugglers suspected to have killed RPF constables Javed Khan and Pramod Kumar on Aug 19-20.
On Monday, police got a tip-off that he planned to take illicit liquor to Patna in Himgiri Express. A team of the Noida unit of special task force (STF) and Ghazipur police was deployed to arrest him.
"Zahid and an accomplice were cornered near Kushi bridge. They opened fire at the cops," additional superintendent of police (STF) Rajkumar Mishra said. While Zahid was injured in retaliatory firing, two cops were also hit by bullets. His accomplice managed to escape. Zahid was nabbed and taken to a community health centre nearby. He was referred to the district hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. A country-made pistol with cartridges and three bags of illicit liquor (139 containers) were recovered from his possession. Iraj Raja, the Ghazipur superintendent of police, said Zahid was believed to be the prime suspect in the killings of two RPF constables.
"The constables were trying to stop the smuggling of illegal liquor on Barmer-Guwahati Express (15631) when the accused assaulted them and pushed them off the moving train, leading to their death," additional director-general (law and order and special task force) Amitabh Yash said.
A case was registered at Ghazipur police station under sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (joint criminal liability) of the BNS. Four accused — Pankaj Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Premchand Verma and Vilendra — were already arrested. Officials said Zahid was involved in several cases of kidnapping, assault and liquor smuggling. They said he was jailed in 2022 for smuggling liquor in Patna. He was also involved in a case of assault in Patna earlier this year.
"Legal proceedings are underway," an official said.