UP: 30-year-old police constable shot dead in op to arrest history-sheeter

A young constable with Uttar Pradesh police breathed his last during the early hours of Tuesday after he was shot in an encounter in Kannauj district. The 30-year-old constable was part of a police team that went to arrest a history-sheeter facing charges in over 20 cases.

Sachin Rathi was part of a police team that went to arrest Ashok Kumar alias Munna Yadav, a history sheeter wanted in at least 20 cases from his home in Kannauj. According to police, as the police team inched close to the accused, Ashok Yadav and his son Abhay opened fire on the cops and tried to escape, NDTV reported. Rathi was shot in the thigh, police said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Kumar Anand said police constable Sachin Rathi sustained a bullet injury in the incident that happened in Vishungarh police station area and was sent to Kanpur for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries, PTI reported. According to police Kumar and his son were shot in retaliatory firing and they were also rushed to hospital in Kannauj.

“On Monday police received information that Ashok Kumar was at his home following which a police team of Chhibramau and Vishungarh police station jointly laid siege to the house. Kumar, his wife and son opened fire at the police team as soon as the police team arrived at the spot in Dharni Dheerpur Nagariya village. Constable Rathi was shot in the thigh and was rushed to Kanpur for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries late in the night,” SP said.

Police have recovered two pistols used by the accused for firing and they also recovered a double barrel rifle from the house. Senior police officials said the constable would be honoured with a gun salute at the police lines.

-with PTI inputs