Main accused in Ajit Singh murder case killed in encounter in UP

The police said that during a search for the murder weapon in the Gomti Nagar area, Vishwakarma hit Sub-Inspector Akhtar Usmani on the nose, snatched his service pistol and tried to escape. He allegedly fired a bullet that grazed the shoulder of Senior Sub-Inspector Anil Kumar Singh. The policemen are undergoing treatment and are stable, said doctors.

“Police had taken Girdhari to Gomti Nagar to recover a weapon used in the murder of Ajit Singh,” said Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Nilabja Chaudhary.

Chaudhary said Vishwakarma was taken to Khargapur crossing in the Vibhuti Khand area around 2.30 am. The police said they had been informed that the accused had hidden the weapon somewhere in the area. When Vishwakarma was being brought out of the police vehicle at Khargapur crossing, he hit Usmani with his head, Chaudhary said. The sub-inspector reportedly lost balance and fell to the ground. The accused immediately snatched Usmani’s service pistol and ran, according to the police. He hid behind bushes nearby and fired at the police officials chasing him. One of the policemen informed the police control room, following which a backup force arrived and warned Vishwakarma to surrender, said the police. But Vishwakarma opened fire, injuring Anil Kumar Singh, police said.

“In reply, the police also fired in which Girdhari got injured. After the firing stopped, the police reached close to Girdhari and found him injured,” said the police. The accused was taken to a hospital, where he died.

The police said five people had been arrested in connection with Ajit Singh’s murder on January 6. Vishwakarma was arrested in Delhi in an Arms Act case. In total, there were 17 cases against him in Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Varanasi and Mau, said the police. The Varanasi police also wanted Vishwakarma’s custody in connection with a murder case.

According to the police, those arrested have told interrogators that Ajit Singh was murdered at the behest of gangsters Dhruv Kumar Singh alias Kuntoo Singh and Akhand Singh. Both of them were in jail at the time of the murder.