Catch me if you can: Jharkhand gangster who challenged police, shot dead in encounter
Yadav had been evading arrest for over a year. In June, he had publicly claimed responsibility for a jewellery shop heist in Hazaribagh through a video, in which he also issued threats to local businessmen.
New Delhi: In a major crackdown on organised crime in Jharkhand, notorious gangster Uttam Yadav was killed in a police encounter on Saturday. The incident marked a significant success for law enforcement in the state, according to officials.
Yadav, who had long been on the police radar, was wanted in multiple cases of murder, robbery, and extortion across the Chhatra and Hazaribagh districts. He gained notoriety earlier this year after a video surfaced of him taunting the police, which went viral on social media.
Was police forced to retaliate
Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta claimed that the encounter took place near the Bagra–Jabra road under the Simaria police station limits, following intelligence inputs that led the police to Yadav’s location. "When the police team reached the area, Yadav opened fire on the personnel, prompting them to retaliate,” Gupta said.
Yadav sustained critical injuries in the exchange of gunfire and was shifted to Chatra Sadar Hospital, where he was declared dead. Authorities also seized an Apache motorcycle believed to belong to him from the scene. "This is a major breakthrough, a top criminal has been neutralised in Chatra district, though the operation was executed by the Hazaribagh police. He had a long criminal record,” the DGP added.
Investigations underway
Yadav had been evading arrest for over a year. In June, he had publicly claimed responsibility for a jewellery shop heist in Hazaribagh through a video, in which he also issued threats to local businessmen. Police also confirmed the arrest of one of Yadav’s associates in a separate raid, during which weapons were recovered. A search operation is currently underway to locate other members of the gang.