RPF jawans' killing: Bihar liquor smuggling racket kingpin ‘Sonu’ killed in UP police encounter

VARANASI: Following the August 19 killing of two Railway Police Force (RPF) jawans by Bihar-based liquor smugglers, a third action was taken by the Special Task Force (STF) and Ghazipur police on Monday night, resulting in the elimination of the gang's kingpin, Mohammad Zahid, alias Sonu, of Patna, during an exchange of fire.
Speaking to TOI, on Tuesday, Ghazipur SP Iraj Raja said that before Sonu was intercepted while attempting to leave for Bihar with a fresh consignment of liquor, another member of his gang, Ravi from Ara, was injured in a police encounter on September 21.Earlier, on August 27, the police had arrested Premchand Verma, Vinay, Pankaj, and Bilebdra Pasi, all from Patna.
Three more members of this gang, including two with cash rewards of Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 on their heads, are still being pursued for their involvement in the killing of the RPF jawans. SP Raja added that police teams are working round the clock to secure their early arrest.
On Monday night, a team from the STF’s Noida unit, in coordination with the Ghazipur police and GRP Dildarnagar, successfully intercepted Sonu, who had a Rs 1 lakh bounty on him. When Sonu opened fire, the police retaliated in self-defense. SP Raja reported that Sonu sustained bullet injuries in the shootout and was rushed to a community health center, where doctors pronounced him dead. Two policemen were also injured in the encounter. Along with a pistol and live cartridges, the police recovered a consignment of country liquor from Sonu.
Sonu was wanted for the double murder of RPF constables Javed Khan and Pramod Kumar, who were attacked and thrown from a moving train by liquor smugglers, including Sonu, on the Barmer-Guwahati Express on August 19. Both constables died in the incident. Sonu had several criminal cases against him, including charges of kidnapping, assault, and liquor smuggling.