Vikas Dubey has reportedly been injured after a car in the Special Task Force (STF) convoy, taking him from Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain to Uttar Pradesh’s Shivli, overturned in Kanpur after crossing the toll plaza. The history-sheeter, accused of masterminding a deadly ambush on a police party outside his Bikru village home, apparently tried to flee that led the police team to open fire.
Dubey was arrested outside Mahakal temple in the pilgrimage city of Ujjain on Thursday after purchasing prasad and an entry ticket to the shrine, ending a six-day manhunt.
Carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest, the gangster had been on the run since last Friday night when a police party, which had gone to arrest him from his house in Bikru village in the Chaubeypur area of Kanpur, was ambushed. The group was caught in a hail of gunfire from rooftops, which left eight policemen, including a deputy superintendent, dead.
Police say he has been a prime accused in some 60 criminal cases in his lifetime, including murders. He was accused of killing a BJP MLA in a police station 20 years ago but was acquitted for lack of evidence.
Notorious gangster Vikas Dubey's wife Richa and son have been released by UP Police after questioning. They were not found to be involved in the Dubey's crime, said SSP Kanpur Dinesh Kumar.
TMC leader Mahua Moitra, raising questions on Vikas Dubey's death, said that under BJP, the Police and Courts' respective functions had become confused.
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said -"Law has taken its course. It could be a matter of regret and disappointment for those who raised questions on Vikas Dubey's arrest yesterday and death today. MP Police did its job, it arrested and handed him over to UP Police."
Many media vehicles were accompanying the convoy carrying Vikas Dubey from Jhansi, some were reportedly stopped before the last toll.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, reacting to Vikas Dubey's death, said -"The criminal is dead, but what about those who aided the criminal?"
Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, after Vikas Dubey's death, said - "Darasal ye car palti nahi, raaz khulne se sarkaar palatne se bachayi gayi hai."
"Dubey was injured in the encounter and he was declared dead in the hospital" ADG Kanpur range
SSP Kanpur Dinesh Kumar said gangster Vikas Dubey had been attempting to take advantage of the accident in which the car overturned. He added that doctors had declared him dead. "Encounter is nothing (sic), all we did was in self defence," he said.
Shots were fired and he has been rushed to a hospital; more details awaited on his condition, reports ANI.
Sources said that the Noida Police were contacted for Dubey's surrender. However, they refused to carry out the procedure. Later, the lawyer also reached out to the Delhi Police for the gangster's surrender but was also denied.
Carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest, the gangster had been on the run since last Friday night when a police party, which had gone to arrest him from his house in Bikru village in the Chaubeypur area of Kanpur, was ambushed. The group was caught in a hail of gunfire from rooftops, which left eight policemen, including a deputy superintendent, dead.