Varanasi: A key suspect in the ambush and killing of a 22-year-old groom during a baraat procession in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district on May 1 was shot dead in an encounter early Monday, police said. The suspect, identified as Ravi Yadav, was killed after opening fire on a police team in the Ranimau area.
During the exchange of gunfire, a Station House Officer (SHO) sustained a hand injury, while a bullet struck the bulletproof jacket of another officer, saving his life. According to Superintendent of Police Kunwar Anupam Singh, a police team had set up a cordon in Ranimau based on a tip-off and attempted to intercept two men on a motorcycle. Finding themselves surrounded, the suspects opened fire on the police, prompting retaliatory fire in which Ravi was fatally shot. His accomplice managed to flee the scene.
Police recovered a firearm from Ravi and rushed him, along with the injured SHO, to a hospital, where doctors declared the accused dead. Ravi was a key accused in the murder of groom Azad Bind, alongside Pradeep Bind and Bhole Rajbhar. Azad was shot by three masked men on a motorcycle as his baraat procession passed through Jaunpur's Badshahi Bazar area on May 1. He later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Pradeep and Bhole remain absconding, and police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to their arrests. Three other suspects allegedly involved in the killing were apprehended following an encounter on May 4. Additionally, eight others have been arrested for allegedly aiding the killers in escaping.
