Did dacoit lead a gang of 15? Authorities differ

On Wednesday,Singh had stated that Ghanshyam was accompanied by his gang members when the encounter with the Chitrakoot SOG team began at Jamauli village on Tuesday. According to Singh,the record with the Anti-Dacoit Cell suggests that Ghanshyam had around 15 members in his gang.

The Superintendent of Police of Chitrakoot,Rakesh Pradhan,said: “Ghanshyam had never been seen in the company of any his associates. He was spotted alone when he had shot a SOG constable Abhay Rai in May 2008. Even during this three-day encounter he was found battling with the 400 policemen all by himself.”

“Ghanshyam was a small-time member of the gang led by Shanker Kewat and had never been in the target list of the STF till he shot dead a SOG constable in 2008,” said Amitabh Yash,SSP of Special Task Force. “Shanker Kewat and his gang members have either been eliminated in police encounters or were arrested during the last two years. Ghanshyam fought alone,” he added.

The in-charge of Chitrakoot SOG team,Sub-Inspector Vijay Singh,who had initiated the operation on Tuesday,said: “The details reaching us through various channel had revealed that Ghanshyam moved along with three or four associates whenever he ventured out.”

“The SOG had intercepted him with his close aides when he had fired and had killed one of the constables in Manikpur area,” he added. According to the Anti-Dacoit cell records,Ghanshyam’s close associates as Ramphal,Surajpal,Pankaj alias Ramesh and Kallu.