In a dramatic series of overnight operations, police in the Varanasi region of Uttar Pradesh engaged in three separate encounters, leading to the arrest of a murder accused and seven alleged cattle smugglers. The incidents, which unfolded on Tuesday night across Ballia, Mau, and Ghazipur districts, involved exchanges of gunfire and resulted in injuries to the suspects.
Ballia Encounter Nets Murder Accused
In Ballia district, the police action led to the arrest of a man wanted for a shocking murder. According to ASP (Southern) Kripa Shankar, Phephna police signaled a suspicious individual to stop during a routine check on a road from the Aamdari area. The suspect, instead of complying, opened fire on the police team and tried to escape. The officers retaliated in self-defense, shooting him in the leg and subsequently apprehending him.
The injured man was rushed to a hospital, where he was identified as Prateek Verma, a resident of Aamdari village. During preliminary interrogation, Verma made a startling confession. He admitted to murdering 10-year-old Shivam Verma on November 30. His motive, as revealed to the police, was revenge for alleged taunts by the boy's uncle, Shatrudhan Verma. Prateek Verma stated that he lured the child to a field, drowned him in a pond, and later concealed the body inside a sack.
Cattle Smugglers Caught in Mau and Ghazipur
Simultaneously, police were cracking down on cattle smuggling networks in neighboring districts. In Mau, a confrontation near Taranpur under the Dohrighat police station jurisdiction resulted in the arrest of six cattle smugglers after an exchange of fire. One of the accused, identified as Bablu Yadav from Bihar, sustained a bullet injury to his leg during the encounter.
In a coordinated effort in Ghazipur district, a joint team of SWAT and Suhwal police station personnel confronted another group of smugglers. One smuggler, named Saif, was shot in the leg and arrested following the encounter. These operations highlight the continued police focus on curbing illegal cattle trade in the region.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations
All arrested individuals are currently under medical supervision for their injuries and are being questioned by the police. The arrest of Prateek Verma has provided a major breakthrough in the November 30 child murder case that had shaken the local community in Ballia. The confessions are being legally recorded, and further investigations are underway to corroborate the details and explore any other potential motives or accomplices.
The successful operations across three districts demonstrate a heightened alertness and proactive stance by the Uttar Pradesh Police in tackling serious crimes, from heinous murders to organized smuggling activities. The police have reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order and taking strict action against criminal elements operating in the region.
